Hereford United

Easton: Equaliser

By Gregg Davies

Hereford United preserved their fine away form in League 2, after coming from behind to draw with fellow promotion hopefuls Peterborough United at London Road.

Clint Easton's precise strike 18 minutes from time rescued The Bulls after they had fallen behind to Craig Mackail-Smith's first-half opener.

With, striker, Steve Guinan serving the first of a three-match suspension following his dismissal against MK Dons Trevor Benjamin returned in attack for The Bulls, partnering Theo Robinson. Luke Webb replaced Lionel Ainsworth in United's only other change to the starting line-up.

John McCombe, deputising for the injured Dean Beckwith, was first to threaten Mark Tyler's goal, flicking Luke Webb's set-piece wide of the target.

But the visitors were then forced into weathering a storm from The Posh, as George Boyd saw his rasping effort gathered well by Wayne Brown before Aaron Mclean headed narrowly over.

Having emerged unscathed from the hosts' continued pressure, Hereford began creating chances of their own.

Clint Easton's inswinging free-kick missed everyone and drifted wide of the far post, before another Easton centre almost forced Chris Westwood to divert the ball into his own net with Benjamin in close quarters.

Adam Newton's cross from the right-flank caused panic in the United rearguard, who were barely able to scramble it away, but the Peterborough flanker would continue to be a nuisance for The Bulls.

Just two minutes before the interval, with Trent McClenahan off the field receiving treatment for a head injury, the hosts capitalised on their numerical advantage.

Newton was able to evade Kris Taylor's sliding tackle on the right-wing, before centring for, former Dagenham & Redbridge marksman and scourge of Hereford in recent seasons, Craig Mackail Smith to apply the simplest of finishes from close range.

And in the four minutes of first-half injury time, Mackail-Smith was menacing forward again. This time, the striker capitalised on a favourable bounce of the ball to weave around Karl Broadhurst, who was forced into bundling the forward over. The Bulls' skipper collected his fifth booking of the season, incurring a one-match suspension.

Benjamin: Revisited Former Club

Hereford began the second-period purposefully, with some confident passing ending with Benjamin heading comfortably wide.

Broadhurst was next to get in on the act, also heading wide of the mark following more insightful football from Graham Turner's charges.

Charlie Lee's 20-yard piledriver on the hour sailed inches wide of the angle of post and bar, shortly before Lionel Ainsworth was introduced in an attempt to add an end product to The Bulls' astute moves in their opponents' half.

Ben Smith came close to making the breakthrough soon after, firing wide after efficient hold up play inside the penalty area by Benjamin.

Mackail-Smith was denied by a smart save from Brown in the striker's last act before being replaced by Rene Howe and it was the United stopper who instigated the move which saw The Bulls hit back with the equaliser.

The Hereford 'keeper's raking kick upfield was only cleared as far as Easton 40 yards from goal, who advanced into the danger zone before unleashing a left-footed missile into the far corner of the net.

Both sides continued to press forward searching for the winning goal. Charlie Lee's fizzing effort was always rising over the crossbar, while at the other end, Ainsworth sent over a drilled cross which was too quick for everyone as it flew across the goal-face.

The final five minutes - plus an additional five minutes of added time - were dominated by The Posh, who piled forward in numbers forcing the United backline into some steadfast defending.

But in a brace of rare forays forward in the closing stages, Hereford could have snatched all three points. McCombe saw his header from a corner sail a whisker off-target, before Ainsworth's attempt at a wonder-goal was thwarted on the edge of the area by The Posh defence after surging forward at pace from inside his own half.

Ainsworth: Lively Sub

Peterborough United: Tyler, Newton (Whelpdale 75), Westwood, Morgan, Day, Keates (Strachan 80), Lee, Boyd, Gnakpa, Mclean, Mackail-Smith (Howe 70)

Subs: Jalal, Strachan, Whelpdale, Howe, Branston

Booked: Howe

Hereford United: Brown, McClenahan, McCombe, Broadhurst, Taylor, Webb (Ainsworth 62), Diagouraga, Smith, Easton, Benjamin, Robinson.

Subs: Ingham, Rose, Ainsworth, Johnson, Gwynne

Booked: Webb, Broadhurst, Robinson

Attendance: 5,008 - 285