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HEREFORD disappointingly failed to build on their two excellent holiday away wins after being held to a 0-0 draw by Notts County at Edgar Street.

Goals from Theo Robinson, Dean Beckwith and Trevor Benjamin gave the Bulls a 3-1 win at Bradford City on Saturday, following on from a 1-0 Boxing Day win at Macclesfield.

But Hereford failed to find the key to break through a solid County defence and had to be content with a draw on New Year's Day.

At least, however, the point keeps United in second place in the League Two table.

Hereford made two changes from the side which won at Bradford with Sam Gwynne replacing the injured Clint Easton and Steve Guinan taking over from Benjamin, who was named among the substitutes.

County should have taken the lead with only five minutes played. Kris Taylor's slackness allowed Lawrie Dudfield to pull the ball back from the by-line but Richard Butcher, unmarked and only 15 yards out, blazed high and wide.

Simon Johnson, who was often involved in the early stages, clipped a shot just wide shortly afterwards and leading scorer Robinson had a low effort saved as Hereford sought the breakthrough.

County had another good chance when the Hereford defence failed to clear a Neil Mackenzie corner and Hector Sam somehow screwed his shot wide from two yards.

Despite a couple more efforts from Johnson and Robinson, the remainder of the first period became embedded in a midfield battle with neither goalkeeper called upon. County made a lively start to the second-half and almost took the lead inside the first 30 seconds with a flashing Butcher drive which drew a fine save from Wayne Brown. Sam then blasted a good opportunity wide.

But it was the Bulls who had the better of play after that and were the dominant force in terms of possession.

Clear-cut openings were few and far between, though, with the best two falling to Johnson and Guinan.

Johnson almost profited from some fine play by the outstanding Ben Smith but fired his drive just over the top.

Guinan also rose highest at the far post to meet a Johnson cross but headed down and wide.

To make the afternoon even more disappointing for the Bulls, a fifth yellow card of the season for Toumani Diagouraga after an innocuous challenge will rule the midfielder out of United's home clash with Shrewsbury on Sunday week.

12:34pm Thursday 3rd January 2008

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