A stoppage time screamer from Josh Gowling gave Hereford FC a richly-deserved share of the spoils against League leaders, Chorley, in a dramatic 1-1 draw recently.

There was a cagey opening to the game as both sides looked to get a foot-hold in the opening exchanges.

The first chance fell to the visitors in the 13th minute when Marcus Carver found space on the edge of the area only for his effort to be deflected wide.

A neat move involving James Roberts and Tom Owen-Evans ended with the latter putting a low ball invitingly into the danger zone as the visitors managed to scramble clear.

With 25 minutes on the clock, a purposeful break from Owen-Evans saw him feed Mike Symons whose ball in search of James Roberts just evaded him.

As the attack stayed alive, Roberts saw a strike deflected wide and from the resulting corner, Jordan Cullinane-Liburd headed just off target.

The Hereford side were starting to get into our stride as Calvin Dinsley dragged a low effort wide and then a strike from Kyle Finn was deflected into the path of Owen-Evans who fired into the side-netting.

As Hereford continued to make their presence felt, an intelligent ball from Josh Gowling found Roberts out wide and his cross was just nicked away from Symons in the middle.

Then a counter-attack ended with Theo Wharton, on his first start for the club, getting in a strike that was on target but comfortably saved by Matt Urwin.

The visitors proved that they were still a threat when Eliot Newby went close on 42 minutes, then Matt Yates had to be alert to push over a cross-come-shot from Josh Wilson shortly afterwards as it remained goalless at the break.

There was a positive break by Finn early in the second period but his eventual strike lacked the necessary power to trouble the ‘keeper.

Shortly after being booked for a late challenge on Keiran Thomas, Josh Wilson combined well with Carver for the latter to drag his effort wide of the target.

The visitors were starting to ask a few questions and just before the hour-mark, former Bull, Josh O’Keefe, unleashed a powerful drive that gave Yates no chance to give his side the lead.

There was a welcome return to action for Keyon Reffell on 65 minutes as he looked to provide a spark.

Some good anticipation from Thomas saw him deny Alex Newby inside the area, whilst at the other end, Eliot Richards’ effort was gathered by the ‘keeper.

Richards had another strike on target soon afterwards that was saved after Roberts did the spade work in the build-up.

An inviting cross from Danny Greenslade was headed just over by Owen-Evans.

Visitors’ substitute, Louis Almond, received a straight red card with ten minutes to go for an off-the-ball incident and with Josh Gowling joining the attack, Hereford pushed for an equaliser in the closing stages.

Gowling fired home with a stoppage time screamer right at the death after being set up by Symons to give Hereford a well-deserved share of the spoils.