All-square at Edgar Street

Hereford and Northampton battled out a 1-1 draw at Edgar Street as Waide Fairhurst cancelled out Andy Holt's opener.

Hereford, with only two home wins this season, looked the more likely side to score in a poor first half and Stuart Fleetwood should have scored after 21 minutes when he drilled his shot at Chris Dunn and then put the rebound wide with Fairhurst better placed. The hosts were punished for some defensive slackness just over a minute into the second period when Kevin Thornton drove a corner into the area and Holt rose highest at the near post to head in. Hereford had a good chance to level when Kenny Lunt sent Fleetwood away to drill in a shot which Dunn had to dive to save. But the Bulls were rewarded for their pressure on 68 minutes when Fairhurst powered in at the near post to thump home a Ryan Green cross. Cobblers centre-back Dean Beckwith came close to glory against his former club when he headed a Thornton corner against an upright.