Tuesday, February 4, 2003

HIGH-flying Hereford United last night salvaged a valuable point after a tremendous second-half fight-back in an action-packed 2-2 Nationwide Conference draw at crisis club Farnborough Town.

The Bulls looked down and out at the break after the Hampshire outfit, who last week lost manager and chairman Graham Westley, scored twice in an impressive first-half display and should really have put the result beyond doubt.

United, however, were a much more determined force after the interval and scored two stunning goals through Jamie Pitman and Danny Williams.

Battling midfielder Pitman hauled United back into the game with superb 20-yard left-foot drive on the hour which screamed past former Hereford 'keeper Tony Pennock.

And Williams' 82nd-minute leveller was just as spectacular, with the former Chesterfield midfielder volleying the ball into the roof of the net after Ian Wright's on-target header had been cleared to the edge of the box.

Sixth-placed United dominated the second half and could have snatched victory in stoppage time when Williams' free-kick clipped the outside of a post with Pennock stranded.

"We allowed Farnborough to take total control in the first half, but we overran them in the second half and I thought that there was only going to be one winner," said Hereford boss Graham Turner.

"After such a poor first half performance, we have to be pleased with the result. And, at the end, we could have won it."

The Bulls started brightly enough, with John Grant's long-range drive producing an excellent diving save from Pennock in the seventh minute.

But Farnborough gradually got on top and Rocky Baptiste opened the scoring on 17 minutes when he calmly slotted the ball home after his initial effort had struck a post.

Only a couple of minutes earlier, Baptiste had squandered a glorious chance for the home side when he rounded the erratic Matt Baker but trod on the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Baker was forced into making a crucial save with his legs to keep out Lenny Piper's shot before Gary Paterson headed in Garry Butterworth's corner to extend Farnborough's lead in the 32nd minute.

Farnborough put Hereford to the sword for the remainder of the first half and Baker pulled off another vital save in stoppage time to thwart Piper, who had raced clear of United's defence.

Hereford: Baker 5, Rose 6, Wright 6, James 6 (Teesdale 46, 6), Pitman 7, Smith 5, Grant 7, Parry 8, Williams 7, Guinan 6, Lovett 6. Subs (not used): Griffiths, Sawyers, Husbands, O'Kelly.

Attendance: 1,030.