Harriers onslaught fails to beat Hereford

Hereford stole all three points at Aggborough in the return Christmas fixture today as they sealed a 1-0 margin from the spot.  With the help of a New Year's present from Kyle Storer, a result which saw the Reds fail to capitalise on Luton's loss earlier on as well as seeing their seven match winning streak come to an end.

The Harriers started as they meant to go on and applied early pressure to gain two free-kicks.  Storer first attempted to supply his team mates but it went straight to Harry Pell who easily cleared, before trying himself and shooting straight at James Bittner in the Hereford goal.

Despite this early pressure it was Hereford who took the lead totally against the run of play.  The Bulls new signing Chris Sharp was brought down, in the opinion of match referee Glenn Turner, by Josh Gowling and Josh O'Keefe converted, despite Lewis guessing the right way.

The Hereford stopper, Bittner, was keeping the Harriers from getting back into the game though.  Soon after the goal he saved a James Vincent shot and as well as this he calmly collected everything that went near him, including a Storer corner and Lee Vaughan cross.

It was the turn of the Harriers free kicks again though and, excluding a wasteful blast from Storer, Mickey Demetriou forced a good save from the day's nemesis James Bittner.

With the former two failing the Reds put faith into Anthony Malbon, but his shot hit the wall.  Signs perhaps that the Harriers need a plan B from free kicks in such dangerous positions for the opposition.

The halfs final chance fell to Jamille Matt, who today signed a new, improved contract which will see him stay until the end of the 2013/14 season, but his header deep in the box was wide of the mark.

The second half started as the first ended with Harriers the team pushing.  Bittner did well to clear from a Storer corner before a Keith Briggs shot was comfortably saved by the in-form Bulls 'keeper.

Soon after it was the Harriers turn for a penalty after loanee Andrew Corbett brought down the surging Harriers left back Mickey Demetriou.  It was Kyle Storer who was trusted with the penalty but his tame effort was comfortably saved by the keeper.

The Harriers pushed forward to try and redeem Storers mistake but Malbons shot at Bittner and Vaughan's skied effort from inside the box could not equalise for the Reds.  Storer had more corner attempts comfortably saved by Bittner and Briggs reflected some of anger in the stadium by stupidly stepping on the Bulls keeper and getting rightfully booked for it.  This was shortly followed by Storer's departure for striker Ryan Rowe.

The Harriers kept pushing, but despite notching twelve corners they could not get past the unstoppable Bittner, who denied the Harriers a goal from their nine shots on target.  In comparison Hereford had just two direct shots in the whole game.

The Reds will take a lot from the performance, the result may cost us in a few months time, but the fans will relish the extension of Jamille Matts contract and hope that three points will be ours against bottom side Barrow on Saturday, despite their first win since the 9th October away at Gateshead today

 Goal for Hereford: O'Keefe (pen) 13

  HT: 0 - 1

  FT: 0 - 1