Hereford United 2 Macclesfield Town 2 - Panic

Just what you need. The game’s dying out, the report is written and then some inconsiderate so-an-so scores an equaliser in the last minute to change everything entailing a panicky thirty second partial re-write.

My hastily written piece in this morning's paper

Then again, if you think I was annoyed you should have seen Bulls boss Jamie Pitman at the final whistle. He was not a happy chappy. True, he contained himself, but you could still see steam coming out of his ears. The last time I visited Hereford he was still fairly new to the managerial game – he now looks like a fully paid up member. I suspect that the Edgar Street tea lady will be looking for replacement cups and saucers today.
Hereford looked to be heading for three points. Macc had failed to convert numerous decent chances and the usually sound Adam Bartlett allowed them to take the lead when he let an innocuous 18 yard overhead kick from a central defender slip between his hands and feet. To top things off, skipper Michael Townsend picked up a second yellow card for dissent and will now miss the ‘derby’ game against former club Cheltenham on Saturday.
But despite going behind to Frenchman Tony Diagne’s acrobatic 18th minute opener, the Bulls pulled one back from the spot in the 40th minute – Rob Purdie converting after Joe Colbeck had been bundled over by Izak Reid.
Strangely, following Townsend’s 59th minute dismissal Hereford seemed to improve. Bristol Rovers loanee Harry Pell came on as part of a tactical change in the 63rd minute and immediately had Macc on the back foot with his energy and trickery. The lad looks a real prospect and topped off a fine cameo performance in the 70th minute when he launched a high ball forward for Stuart Fleetwood. The striker then did brilliantly to control the ball as it came down with snow on it and lifted it into the net for his 12th goal of the season.
But there was still time for Tyrone Barnett to rise at the far post, nod in his eighth of the season, stun Hereford, grab a last gasp point, and leaving me cursing in the Press Box.
A special mention for the Macclesfield away support. Thirty-three hardy souls made the trip down and so if anyone deserved to get something out of the evening it was them.
I had a brief chat with Macclesfield boss Gary Simpson who rightly paid tribute to the travelling support, but also revealed that the club was so strapped for cash that his top earner was on £700 per week and he had players on the pitch last night who were picking up £200. I’ve always known that there was a massive gulf between the Premier/Championship wages and the two lower leagues, but didn’t realise it was quite so wide. As Gary said last night: “If we manage to stay up it will be like swimming the Channel.”
Pitman wasn’t impressed with the visitors and said: “We’ve just thrown away two points to a horrible side.” Fair enough, but when you’re paying what they are at Macclesfield you cut your cloth accordingly.
"It wasn't enjoyable. We coped with ten men, they didn't have a chance, we made our own downfall in the end. We had a good spell. It was a game when you didn't think really they were going to get another chance. We made our own downfall by making a silly mistake."