A SHOT IN THE ARM FOR KEV!
Bulls made to pay for error
HEREFORD handed Brackley’s James Armison a gift goal to cancel out Rowan Liburd’s opener in an error-strewn clash at baking Edgar Street.
There was little of quality on show although Hereford will be pleased to have brought a run of three defeats by Town to an end.
“A draw was probably a fair result,” said Town boss Kevin Wilkin, after seeing his side pick up their first away point of the season.
“Both sides have had a go – we’ve had most of the play in and around the penalty area and confined them to distance but a draw is probably fair.”
Hereford, who had enjoyed the better of the early stages, took the lead on 15 minutes from the second of two almost identical freekicks 22 yards out.
The first, from Jordan Nicholson, was fired harmlessly into the defensive wall. But the second, by Bradley Ash, curled over the wall and came back off the bar for Liburd to have
the easy task of heading home.
As the half progressed, Brackley gradually started to assume control although they needed some comedy defending to help them draw level.
Hereford skipper Josh Gowling and Raheem Hanley were plying tippy-tappy with the ball in their own half, only for Matt Lowe to nip in. The midfielder crossed for Armison who fired past Brandon Hall.
The quality of play deteriorated in the second period under the baking sun but it was Hereford who had a couple of great chances to take all three points.
On 78 minutes, Town centre-back Kelvin Langmead sliced an intended clearance inches wide of his own goal.
Then three minutes later, the Bulls were awarded a penalty when Nicholson’s shot was blasted against a defender’s arm. Justice may well have been served when Tom Owen-Evans blazed the penalty high over.
“If you’re going to start awarding penalties like that, then we’re in a whole lot of trouble,” said Wilkin.
“What exactly you can do in that situation is beyond me – he was about three yards away when the ball was blasted at him.”
As if picking up momentum from the miss, Town finished strongly and only a goal-line clearance from Jordan Cullinane-Liburd followed by a good Hall save from Carl Baker preserved Hereford’s point.
“It wasn’t a great second half performance and we have a point where we probably should have had three,” said Hereford’s caretaker boss Tim Harris.
“At times in the first half we played some really good football but after they equalised we struggled to get a foothold in the game.”
STAR MAN: Simeon Maye (Hereford) ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★