VERDICT: Fair outcome as Poppies and Bulls draw a blank

In the end, the final outcome was probably about right as the two sides cancelled each out for the most part on the tough surface, which was only given the go ahead following a lunchtime inspection.

It may be six games without a win and four draws in a row for the Poppies but they once again showed a real resilience in securing another valuable point as they try to claw their way to safety in the Vanarama National League North.

Defensively, they were sound and even when the defences were breached they had Paul White there to make one excellent save to help preserve the point.

It’s the other end of the pitch, however, which will continue to give Paul Cox the most concern.

Kettering have scored just twice in their last six matches and it is a conundrum that Cox will need to solve in both the short, medium and long term.

Indeed, in this tightest of contests, a little bit of luck might have helped and the Poppies were unfortunate late on when Dan Nti saw his effort cannon off the post.

However, had either side claimed the points it would have been harsh on the other.

The first half was, to say the least, scrappy.

Brett Solkhon, on his 597th appearance for the club, headed wide from an early Ben Milnes corner before Gary Stohrer produced a magnificent run which saw him beat four men before finally being halted as he looked set to shoot.

But chances at either end were few and far between with Hereford’s Tom Owen-Evans seeing a shot deflect into the side-netting white Lennell John-Lewis shooting straight at White after a neat turn in the box.

Things opened up more after the break and the Bulls looked a bigger threat with half-time substitute Rowan Liburd on the pitch.

He flashed a shot over with his first touch and then forced White into a decent one-handed save after breaking into the box.

At the other end, Tre Mitford did have the ball in the net but only after the whistle had blown for a foul on visiting goalkeeper Brandon Hall, who held onto a Mitford snap-shot at his near post soon after.

Mitford could only find the side-netting after a darting run to the near post as he connected with the lively Omari Sterling-James’ cross.

But the big chances at either end came in the final 20 minutes.

First, White flung himself full length to brilliantly tip Liburd’s fierce strike over the crossbar.

But it was the Poppies who came so close to winning it with five minutes to go when Nti fired towards the near post, only to see his effort smack off the upright with Sterling-James unable to turn the rebound home.

As previously observed, a goal either way would have been harsh.

It wasn’t pretty but it’s another point on the board and if the Poppies have to do it in ‘ones’ then so be it. The achievement of turning this season around will still hold the same merit, no matter how the job gets done...

Poppies: White; Stohrer, Graham, Solkhon, Taylor; Nti, Kennedy, Milner, Meikle; Mitford, Sterling-James. Subs not used: Smith, Bennett, Richens, Aghatise, Law.

Hereford: Hall; Hodgkiss, Riley, Pope, Anderson (sub Thomas, 71 mins); Owen-Evans (sub Finn, 77 mins), Pollock, Cane, O’Sullivan; John-Lewis, Mooney (sub Liburd, h-t). Subs not used: Ash, Cullinane-Liburd.

Referee: Scott Tallis.

Bookings: Hodgkiss (foul), Thomas (dissent).

Northants Telegraph man-of-the-match: Daniel Nti - The Poppies starting XI lasted the full 90 and each player put in a decent performance in a scrappy game in difficult conditions. Nti worked hard and brought his team-mates into the match on the right wing and up front where he gradually drifted as the game went on, winning flick-ons and chasing down defenders. The forward hit the post, almost setting up loanee Omari Sterling-James in the process, with what was the home side’s best chance of the game midway through the second-half.

Attendance: 640.