Hereford United 0 Leigh RMI 0: BOTH Conference clubs will be happy to still have one foot in the FA Trophy as the tie of the round between Hereford and Leigh RMI was bereft of both goals and attack-based entertainment.
In the most prestigious non-league knockout competition, it was apparant from the early stages that not conceding goals took precedence over scoring them, despite Michael McIndoe's audacious 30 yard effort in the first 10 seconds, which caused no problems for Dave Felgate.
As the first half continued, the Bulls' were starting to grow in confidence and did actually create two chances before the referee's whistle intervened for half-time. Gavin Williams should have done better with a left-foot shot, but the ex-Football League side failed to live up to the attacking reputation that they had built during the league clash in September, and the interval stalemate would have pleased Steve Waywell more than his opposite number.
It was in the latter end of proceedings that Leigh threatened Cooksey's goal the most. Dave Ridings lashed his shot into the side-netting from an acute angle, whilst the classy midfielder played Tony Black in, but he lost control whilst stretching and the opening went begging. Rob Elmes went closest to snatching a late winner for the hosts, but he could only direct his looping header over the frame.
After the match, Ridings was satisfied: "It is a good result to take Hereford back to Hilton Park, and although we didn't play terribly well in the first half, I thought we might have even snatched it at the end. It's a long trip for them to make on a Tuesday night, and I think that they will struggle to adapt to our pitch. It was a battle today, and I think that was partly to do with nerves. Nobody wants to go out of the cup early, and I think that showed."
However, there was a darker side to the afternoon, as central defender Iain Swan left Edgar Street on a stretcher after a horrific clash of heads with Rob Elmes left him unconscious.
The draw means that both Leigh's re-arranged Conference fixture with Kettering Town and the Marsden Lancashire Cup replay with Lancaster City will be forced to take a back seat on Tuesday, with the FA Trophy replay taking place at Hilton Park. The kick-off is 7:45pm.
RMI: Felgate, Spooner, German (Harris 63), Durkin, Farrell, Swan (Murphy 86), Monk (Morrell 83), Ridings, Kielty, Black, Trees. Subs not used: Critchley, Matthews.
Referee: Mr K Pike
Attendance: 1,491
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