Match ends, Hereford United 2, Chester FC 2.
Hereford United 2-2 Chester
- From the section Football
All four goals came before the break as relegation-threatened Hereford and Chester shared a draw at Edgar Street.
After Hereford striker Ross Dyer broke the deadlock on 17 minutes, heading in Danny Leadbitter's cross, the visitors struck twice inside three minutes.
Craig Lindfield tapped in when Dan Lloyd-Weston spilled a cross and Gareth Seddon rifled in from 45 yards after the Bulls keeper raced out of his goal.
But Dyer headed the home side level to claim a deserved point for the Bulls.
Defeat would have plunged Hereford, now without a win in seven league games, into the bottom four.
But they ended up unlucky not to have completed a double over Chester, having won 2-0 at Bumpers Lane in August.
Chester, who have climbed out of the relegation zone after losing just once in seven league games, were kept in it after the break by a string of stunning saves from keeper John Danby, three of them from luckless livewire home striker Michael Rankine.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Bulls manager Martin Foyle told BBC Hereford & Worcester:
"The two goals we conceded were poor. They'll get me the sack.
"After going a goal in front, suddenly it was panic stations and, if we'd gone 3-1 down, it was a game we could easily have lost if we'd wobbled.
"But then we got back in the game at 2-2. And they never had a shot on target in the second half.
"There was a good intensity there. but everybody just wants that win."
Chester manager Neil Young told BBC Radio Merseyside:
"The lads have shown great character. Despite conceding another sloppy goal, we got straight back into it.
"That's one defeat in seven for us now in the league. It's just a case of turning those draws into wins.
"But any point in this league against a full-time club is excellent.
"We knew Hereford would put us under an aerial bombardment from set pieces, especially with Michael Rankine up top, but I thought we weathered the storm in the second half."
Line-ups
Hereford United
- 21Lloyd-Weston
- 5McDonald
- 12Collins
- 2Leadbitter
- 3Bush
- 16ArtusSubstituted forEdwardsat 80'minutes
- 8O'Keefe
- 24LathropeBooked at 62mins
- 36Dyer
- 15Rankine
- 9WalkerSubstituted forBrownat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 17Brown
- 33Murphy
- 11Smith
- 14Edwards
- 20Odhiambo
Chester
- 1Danby
- 27Killock
- 17Higginbotham
- 12Turner
- 14McIntyre
- 8Jarrett
- 15TurnerSubstituted forKayat 52'minutes
- 21Mahon
- 30WilkinsonSubstituted forReedat 59'minutes
- 19SeddonSubstituted forLesterat 66'minutes
- 11Lindfield
Substitutes
- 13Fearon
- 32Lester
- 7Reed
- 2Kay
- 5Linwood
- Referee:
- Brett Huxtable
- Attendance:
- 1,512
Match Stats
Home TeamHereford UnitedAway TeamChester
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away3
- Corners
- Home0
- Away0
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away11
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Hereford United 2, Chester FC 2.
Attempt missed. Michael Kay (Chester FC) header from the left side of the six yard box is too high. Assisted by Lewis Turner.
Corner, Chester FC.
Offside, Hereford United. Ross Dyer tries a through ball, but Ross Dyer is caught offside.
Foul by Rod McDonald (Hereford United).
John Danby (Chester FC) wins a free kick.
Foul by Craig Lindfield (Chester FC).
Daniel Leadbitter (Hereford United) wins a free kick.
Attempt saved. Josh O'Keefe (Hereford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Foul by Josh O'Keefe (Hereford United).
Lewis Turner (Chester FC) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Hereford United. Joel Edwards replaces Frankie Artus.
Attempt blocked. Craig Mahon (Chester FC) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Hereford United.
Corner, Hereford United.
Attempt saved. Michael Rankine (Hereford United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Foul by Craig Lindfield (Chester FC).
Damon Lathrope (Hereford United) wins a free kick.
Foul by Michael Rankine (Hereford United).
Craig Mahon (Chester FC) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Hereford United. Jonathan Brown replaces Dan Walker.
Attempt saved. Rod McDonald (Hereford United) header from a difficult angle on the right is saved. Assisted by Dan Walker.
Corner, Hereford United.
Attempt saved. Michael Rankine (Hereford United) left footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Substitution
Substitution, Chester FC. Chris Lester replaces Gareth Seddon.
Attempt missed. Chris Bush (Hereford United) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Corner, Hereford United.
Attempt saved. Frankie Artus (Hereford United) right footed shot is saved.
Booking
Damon Lathrope (Hereford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Damon Lathrope (Hereford United).
Craig Mahon (Chester FC) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Chester FC. Jamie Reed replaces Conor Wilkinson.
Attempt missed. Damon Lathrope (Hereford United) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Foul by Michael Kay (Chester FC).
Frankie Artus (Hereford United) wins a free kick.
Attempt saved. Gareth Seddon (Chester FC) right footed shot from outside the box is saved. Assisted by Jason Jarrett with a cross.
Foul by Josh O'Keefe (Hereford United).
Craig Mahon (Chester FC) wins a free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, Chester FC. Michael Kay replaces Nathan Turner.