Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Hereford United: Chadwick Pen Earns Pilgrims A Point

Two late red cards marred a feisty relegation tussle between Plymouth Argyle and Hereford United, Nick Chadwick's late penalty rescuing a point for the Greens at Home Park.

The point keeps Argyle off the bottom of the table, though gaffer Carl Fletcher felt a more consistent performance could have resulted in three points.

"At times, in the first half, we were okay; at times we weren't. In the second half, we weren't and then we were. So it was up and down.

"Overall, I'm disappointed we didn't win at home because we want to win every home game we play but it's another big case that we didn't lose today.

"After going a goal behind, we came back well and possibly could have won, but, in terms of what we're looking at and what we want, it wasn't fully there."

The opening period was a largely drab affair, Chadwick forced Bulls stopper Adam Bartlett into a fine save early on, Yoann Arquin's spectacular scissor kick flashing inches wide for Hereford.

Durrell Berry looked on in horror after he sliced Delroy Facey's centre towards his own goal, the crossbar sparing the 19 year old's blushes.

67 minutes in, however, the travelling support did have something to cheer. Harry Pell found yards of space in the final third and burst into the penalty area, cutting the ball back for on loan Blackpool winger Tom Barkhuizen to give United the lead.

The Pilgrims were fighting hard for a way back into the game and were rewarded when Nicky Featherstone clattered substitute Warren Feeney in the area, former Bull Chadwick converting the 81st minute penalty.

Michael Townseend's crass fould ended Ashley Hemmings forthright run, earning the defender a second yellow card.

Feeney had two late opportunites to snatch the full quotient of points for the home side; initially forcing Adam Bartlett into an outstanding full-stretched save before sending a swivelling volley into the Green Army behind the goal.

Darren Purse still found the time to receive Argyle's ninth red card of the season after a dreadfully mistimed slide on Nathan Elder, though the 26 year old's breakdancing antics made the challenge look worse than it actually was.
Hereford boss Jamie Pitman left with his frustration increased following the low points return his side have garnered from their last few games, despite positive displays.

"We go into every game wanting to win it but obviously it was a big game given where both teams are in the league.

"Our last three performances previous to this one have not given us the rewards we have probably deserved.

"Today was another such case. To be fair to them, they have had a few chances but I think we were good value for the win."

Rovers Halted By Rear Guard Bulls

Hereford boss Jamie Pitman claimed he was 'very pleased with the point' that his side claimed away at Bristol Rovers after a 0-0 draw in the West Country, saying 'it's something to build on'. The bricklaying must start soon for the workmanlike Bulls, though, as they are still to win a league game this season.

"Now we need to show a bit of belief that we can go on and win a game." Continued the Bulls chief, "We've defended very well today and ground out a very good point at what is a very difficult place to come.

"Paul Buckle has got a great record at this level and knows how to organise his teams well. We've come under a bit of pressure but also, on the other hand, we have had our moments as well."

Facing one of the stronger squads in League 2 Hereford, languishing one place off the foot of the basement division, were forced to work hard in defence, successfully denying the home side any clear cut chances.

Rovers spurned numerous opportunities, Matt Harrold having two headed chances either side of the half time whistle saved, the first being tipped onto an upright.

Hereford only hit the target twice throughout the ninety minutes but came closest when Harry Pell's swerving cross looped over Scott Bevan's head, clattering off the inside of the post and away. The former Pirates midfielder also saw a penalty appeal turned down after falling meekly in the area.

There was one last chance for the hosts but Lee Brown was unable to connect sweetly with his injury time diving header.

Rovers gaffer Buckle chose to speak not about his teams inability to deliver the killer blow, instead blaming the Memorial Stadium surface for thwarting the pace of his sides play.

"I couldn't believe what it was like and it's a lesson learned for the future. There is nothing a visiting side like more than a pitch which slows up the play.

"It sounds like an excuse but it's actually a reason why we didn't get better crosses into the box from the right in the first half.

Rovers Assets Fail To Beat Hereford

Two teams with divisional aims that are poles apart faced off at the Memorial Stadium, only to find that the gap was not so great after all. Bristol Rovers, installed as second favourites for the League 2 title by the majority of bookmakers, have their sights set firmly on an immediate return to the English third tier come May. For Hereford the task is to maintain Football League status, a feat achieved by a mere three points last season.

The Rovers squad looks to have it all, experience, youth, pace, strength and flair and under the stewardship of daring manager Paul Buckle, a man who took lowly Torquay United from the Conference to the brink of League 1, their fans have good reason to be titillated over their chances of promotion. Twice, too, they attempted to draw blood in the early stages against Hereford, the experience, Scott McGleish, finding the hands of David Cornell with the games first attempt before swiping a low drive across the face of the Swansea City loanee's goal upon being given the gift of space in the penalty area.

Much of the Bulls struggles last term figured around the lack of goals, just fifty in all in the league, Stuart Fleetwood the only man to make it into double figures. The additional captures, however, of experienced striker Delroy Facey, still able to pump his athletic legs across a football field at great speed, and Yoann Arquin, a powerful striker taken from the French lower leagues, had given hope of a change in destiny this time around. The Hereford faithful are still waiting for the wheel of fortune to turn.

Seven games into the season the Bulls have just a brace of goals to show, one apiece for Facey and Arquin, with just one of those strikes coming in league competition. If the West Midlands club are to up their goal tally this year then they will need to be far more ruthless in their finishing than shown in this display, Facey missing his side's only notable chance of the first half, heading wide from a Simon Clist cross.

Tuesday night saw both these sides in Carling Cup action, Hereford dropping out of the tournament after conceding two late goals at Villa Park. Rovers, on the other hand, shook up the already frail foundations of Championship Watford's season, finishing level at 1-1 after 120 minutes of football before hitting the back of the net on four out of five occasions in the shootout decider. The Bristolian's equaliser in midweek came via the right boot of top scorer Matt Harrold, proving, during the early exchanges of the season, to be Rovers in-form man.

The 6' 1" striker is a pivotal cog in Paul Buckle's engine room, responsible for taking the ball out of the air and onto the ground in preparation for further assault on opposition territory, and he proved to be the key man once again in sunny Horfield. It was the Londoner who had the best opportunity of all during the first period, his flicked header from a hurled Matt Gill throw in tipped onto the post by the scrambling Cornell, the Hereford custodian saving once again from Harrold at the start of the second half.

Despite the statistical dominance of the home side it was the visitors ranks that contained the afternoon's shining light, coming in the shape of Harry Pell, a young man who turned down the offer of a new contract during the summer reshuffle at Rovers in search of first team football, happening upon such an opening with Jamie Pitman's side. The former Charlton youth ran the middle of the park for the duration of the game, driving his side on and threatening a steadfast Pirates' defence when the occasion suited.

The luck that has seemingly deserted the Whites for much of the short duration of the season almost emphatically had a change of heart. Man of the match Pell slung in a cross from deep in the right hand channel that viciously whipped over the head of the stranded Scott Bevan who could only listen to the thud of the ball rebounding off the post as he fell backward towards his own line, the defenders in front of him finally clearing the threat.

That slice of fortune did, however, come to the visitors rescue with just seconds left on the clock as Rovers left back Lee Brown blazed into the Bulls penalty area, flinging himself head first at a cross from his namesake Wayne, his neck proving millimetres too short as the ball grazed off his forehead and into the advertising hoardings in front of the Blackthorn End, it's thousand inhabitants left to stand stunned, hands on heads, knowing that was to be the conclusion of the afternoon's quest for three points.

Another Thrashing In The Offing?

During their four year stint in League 1 the best result Bristol Rovers managed came in an emphatic 6-1 win over Hereford, taking no pity on a side destined for relegation back to the Football League's basement division at the first attempt, and they will be hoping for a just as convincing scoreline when they face the Bulls on Saturday.

Rovers are yet to settle into the rhythm expected from them during pre-season, they lost just one of their first team friendlies, but that is not to say that have started poorly. The Gas sit ninth in the table with seven points, their last league game ending in stalemate away at Macclesfield last weekend, though they will be buoyed by a battling display against Championship Watford on Tuesday night, holding Shaun Dyche's men to a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes before finishing them off in the resultant penalty shootout.

With striker Matt Harrold starting the season the fine form, the ex-Shrewsbury marksman having netted three goals Rovers five games, and a squad packed full of attacking talent in terms of pace, flair and experience the blank drawn at Macclesfield is likely to be an irregular occurrence wherever Rovers take to the pitch, most notably at home in front of a vociferous home crowd.

In complete contrast to the promotion hopefuls Hereford have much lesser ambitions in League 2 this term, the highest finishing position seen since the relegation from the third tier three seasons ago being sixteenth, the Bulls ending up just three points away from the drop into non-league in May. The cumulative drop in League positions since the 2008/09 season looks to be continuing as Jamie Pitman's side currently find themselves in the bottom two just four games in, only collecting their first point with a 1-1 draw away at Wimbledon on Saturday. That result continued a run of nine away games without a win for Hereford, March the last time they took all three points on the road.

It will be a return to Bristol for a pair of former Rovers players. Ryan Green spent three years with the club and claimed an assist in the 2007 play-off final win at Wembley while Harry Pell, also a loanee at Edgar Street last year, played ten times for the West Country side before turning down a new contract in search of first team football.

The home side will be without Stuart Campbell, the player-coach suffering with a hamstring injury, while Gary Sawyer is still recovering from a hernia operation. Cian Bolger tweaked his ankle ligaments in Tuesday's Carling Cup tie and will miss out against Hereford. Chris Zebroski was also withdrawn from the field against Watford as a precaution but has been back in training and will be in contention as is Harrold, another Pirate subbed off last time out. Joe Anyinsah could make a return to the starting line up having fought back from a hamstring tweak.

There are potential debuts in the offing for Bulls loan duo Will Evans and Thomas Barkhuizen. Wiltshire born Evans comes to the West Midlands from Swindon Town having made one appearance in senior football, as has Barkhuizen, moving down to Hereford from Blackpool until January. Another loanee, Simon Clist, was cup-tied for the midweek game at Aston Villa on Tuesday but could return to to the side at the Memorial Stadium while Rob Purdie faces a fitness test on his thigh.

Stopper Adam Bartlett, saver of two penalties in a Hereford shootout win the last time the two sides met, is definitely out with a thigh injury with central defensive pair Stefan Stam and Beniot Dalibard both out with hamstring problems.

Bulls Snap Up Pell

Having turned down the offer of a new contract at Bristol Rovers midfielder Harry Pell has decided to join League 2 rivals Hereford United on a two year deal.

During the early part of the summer break Rovers chairman Nick Higgs confirmed that the club were in talks with the Essex born player after he impressed during the latter stages of the season, making nine appearances after returning from an initial loan period with the Bulls.

During his first stint at Edgar Street Pell played seven games, the first two of which came off of the bench, and made a big impact on manager Jamie Pitman who noted such when speaking of his new signing. "I'm delighted to welcome Harry to the club after an impressive loan spell last season" said Pitman.

Prior to joining the Pirates Pell had been released by Charlton Athletic, the club he was a part of since age seven, and spent time at Hastings United on work experience. Following his release Pell also had trials for Gillingham and Wycombe before deciding to settle himself in Bristol.

McCracken Stays As Pell Goes

There were two pieces of transfer news for Bristol Rovers on deadline day, both involving loans.

Dave McCracken has had his loan spell from Brentford extended from its initial month long period until the end of the season. The central defender has made three appearances for the Gas since he joined, helping Rovers to a first clean sheet in 17 games on his debut againstin Hartlepool. He also started in the home win over Swindon and the 6-1 mauling at the Bescot Stadium on Saturday.

Rovers manager Dave Penney showed his pleasure at securing the Scot for the season, saying:

"Dave has shown his qualities in the few games he has played for us.

"His leadership and communication skills will be an asset to us and I am delighted that he will be with us until the end of the season."

McCracken started his career in Scotland with Dundee United playing 203 games for a club he joined as a professional in 1998. He moved to England to play for League 2 Wycombe, helping them gain promotion in 2009 and being named in the PFA League 2 team of the year. He moved onto MK Dons and made 41 league starts at Stadium:MK before moving onto Brentford at the start of the current season. His time with the Bees has been frustrating as he has made only 3 appearances before joining Rovers on January 17th.

In other news youngster Harry Pell has move to League 2 Hereford United for a just over a month, his loan spell ending on March 5th.

Pell joined Rovers in the summer having been released by Charlton and has played just once, coming on as a substitute for Stuart Campbell in the 3-0 defeat by Leyton Orient. The 19 year old will jump straight into the Bulls squad to face Torquay United on Tuesday night.

Young professional Jack McKenna has had his loan spell at Southern Premier League Chippenham town extended for another month.