Boro held to goalless draw at home by struggling Hereford
Two solid defences stood firm as Boro and Hereford played out a hard-fought goalless draw on Tuesday night at a chilly Queensgate.
In contrast to the exciting and dramatic draw with Macclesfield three days earlier, this was a more mundane affair, with both keepers having just one difficult save to make, and a draw was probably a fair result.
There was however almost a sensational opening, as Boro claimed for a penalty in the first minute, when a Hereford defender appeared to handle in the area, then play switched to the other end, and Harry Tustin passed to striker George Munday, who fired inches past the left-hand post. Boro shaded possession in the first half despite Jake Hull hobbling off when his hamstring tweaked early on.
A Green cross was headed into keeper Theo Richardson’s arms by Dom Tear, then, on 24 minutes, Green jinked past two defenders, and his fierce low shot produced a superb diving save from Richardson.
In Hereford attacks, Justin Donowa and Cormac Daly both shot straight at Ryan Whitley, and a surging Munday run was stopped by a superb sliding tackle from Tear.
Boro passed the ball around on the bumpy pitch, with Rio Allan, Luca Colville, Jack Waldron and Green all looking sharp, but Hereford got men behind the ball, and goal attempts as the interval approached, saw Colville send over a free-kick, with Tear’s shot on the turn blocked by the excellent Aaron Skinner, and a Green strike was blocked by Keenan Quansah.
Early in the second half a low cross from Green found skipper Will Thornton at the back post, but Quansah hacked clear, then a mazy dribble from Colville ended when he was tackled by Freddy Willcock on the edge of the box.
On 58 minutes Boro keeper Whitley pulled off a terrific save, diving to push away a thumping shot from Andy Williams, and a Keziah Martin free-kick was fired over by Skinner.
Alex Purver headed forward to Ste Walker, who chipped narrowly wide, then the visitors twice launched attacks, but Alex Brown tackled Daly when he raced into the area, and Waldron intercepted a through-ball from Tustin towards Daly.
Boss Jono Greening made a triple substitution, including the welcome return of Alex Wiles who had missed the last 26 games through injury, and he volleyed over after a Purver free-kick was headed out to him by a defender.
Walker teed up Colville in the area, but Daly slid in to tackle, then the excellent Thornton made a fabulous block when Skinner fired goalwards for Hereford. Late on, a Waldron cross fell to Colville, whose powerful shot was blocked by Kyle Howkins.
BORO - Whitley, Waldron, Brown, Hull (Duckworth 15), Thornton (c), Purver, Allan (Chapman 72), Tear (Bennett 72), Walker, Green (Wiles 72), Colville.
HEREFORD - Richardson, Hudson, Willcox, Howkins, Quansah, Skinner, Tustin, Donowa (Williams 53), Martin, Daly, Munday (Lane 72). Unused subs - Lewis (GK), Preston, D’Ath, Sohna, James.
REFEREE - Tom Wilson.
GOAL ATTEMPTS - BORO 7 (2 on target) HEREFORD 6 (3 on target).
CORNERS - BORO 5 HEREFORD 2.
OFFSIDES - BORO 3 HEREFORD 0.
YELLOW CARDS - Green (Boro), Hudson, Munday, Williams, Martin (Hereford).
BORO MAN OF MATCH - Will Thornton.
ATTENDANCE - 508 (44 away).