Saturday, October 18, 2003

A BRILLIANT penalty save by Matt Baker just two minutes from time kept Hereford United at the top of the Nationwide Conference.

It seemed as if the Bulls' battling performance, in which they had more than matched their closest rivals Chester City at the Deva Stadium, was to be rewarded with nothing when Michael Rose was harshly adjudged to have felled Ben Davies.

The decision appeared to be given by one of Shrewsbury referee Robert Lewis's assistants and provoked a furious reaction from the Hereford players.

But Baker kept his nerve and dived to save as ex-Hereford striker Ian Foster attempted to place his spot-kick.

It would have been rough justice on the Bulls if they had not come away with the point their display merited.

An early header by Daryn Stamp was well gathered by Baker before Paul Parry might have done better when he headed a cross from Tamika Mkandawire wide of an upright in the 10th minute.

A Stamp header from a deceptive Kevin McIntyre cross forced Baker into a diving save as the half progressed.

And almost on the whistle for the end of the half, a Stamp cross flashed across the face of the goal, eluding Baker but also the on-rushing Daryl Clare.

The Bulls made a strong opening to the second period and twice went close to taking the lead in the half's first five minutes.

A Rose cross was flicked on by Jamie Pitman but David Brown was unable to get any power behind his header which was easily saved by Ian McCaldon in the home goal.

Then Danny Williams and Ben Smith combined to open up a chance for Steve Guinan but McCaldon was out well to block.

When a Williams free-kick was superbly palmed away by McCaldon on 53 minutes, Hereford seemed to be establishing a telling dominance.

But Chester hit back and Baker had to come out quickly to punch away a McIntyre through ball, and then the industrious Jamie Pitman came back to clear when Davies worked his way through.

The entertainment continued with good play by both sides, particularly in defence where the efforts of Chester's three-man back-line were more than matched by Bulls' skipper Tony James and his defensive partner Mkandawire who have forged an excellent partnership at the heart of the Hereford rearguard.

After Baker's excellent save kept Hereford on level terms, the home side's disappointment was completed in injury time when Jamie Heard, who had done a good marking job on Paul Parry, was sent off for his second yellow card.