Cheltenham Town will reflect on points dropped here as Hereford United came from behind to claim an unlikely point at Edgar Street this afternoon.

It was particularly disappointing with the Robins seemingly set to banish the memories of the painful 3-0 defeat last season with a far improved performance.

Martin Allen's side produced a host of chances to put this game out of sight but they were thwarted in the main part by Adam Bartlett, who capped a memorable week with a superb display of goalkeeping having saved a penalty in his side's Carling Cup success against Charlton Athletic in midweek.

Elvis Hammond gave his side a well-deserved lead after the break, but Jonny Godsmark was allowed to square the contest with virtually his side's only chance of the second half, 14 minutes from time.

It was the first league point Cheltenham have recorded against the Bulls, but this was a case of what should have been.

TEAM NEWS: Allen made one change for this first Coca-Cola League Two visit to Hereford United. Oliver Bozanic, who was an unused substitute in Australia's 3-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Wednesday night, came in at the expense of David Hutton who dropped to the bench. Marley Watkins missed out. Otherwise the team was the same as the one which lost 2-1 to Southend United at the Abbey Business Stadium on Tuesday night, with Bozanic starting the game on the right flank and Richards, who was used as a target man down the left.

11th minute SUBSTITUTION: Cheltenham started the game brightly, enjoying a good spell of early possession but their plans were dealt a blow after only 11 minutes when Michael Pook limped away from the game with 11 minutes on the clock. The midfielder looked to twist a knee after a full-bloodied challenge with Hereford's James McQuiken on the edge of his own box. Drissa Diallo was therefore pressed into action, going to right back with David Bird joining Andy Gallinagh in central midfield.

20: Elvis Hammond struck the first real chance of the afternoon high over the bar after some determined play by first Bozanic, and then Gallinagh on the edge of the Hereford penalty area. The striker attempted an audacious chip a moment later from the touchline on the left but goalkeeper Bartlett chased back to take it at head height.

25: Barry Hayles capitalised on a Jonny Godsmark mistake in midfield to play an inch perfect ball into the path of Hammond, who should have shot first time from 12 yards. Instead right back Ryan Green did enough to force a weak shot which was comfortably gathered by Bartlett.

29: The home side began to get a foothold in the game after the mid-way point of the first half. Kenny Lunt produced Hereford first chance of note around the half hour mark, firing over after a slick Hereford move down the right.

31: Hereford then went close to opening the scoring two minutes later through Lee Morris. Godsmark picked up a cross-field pass down the right before picking out the striker with a pinpoint cross, however his glancing header flew inches over the bar.

35: Cheltenham had two great chances to break the deadlock with ten minutes remaining of the opening period. First Bozanic raced onto a Hammond's flick-on to blast a left foot volley from 25 yards which called Bartlett into a diving stop, pushing the effort onto the base of the left upright to concede a corner. The Australian delivered it himself and Duff arrived unmarked to meet it although his downward header bounced over the bar.

HALF TIME: 0-0

46: Cheltenham begun the second period in positive style and created a host of chances before eventually claiming the opening goal after 59 minutes. The first chance arrived via Hammond, who called Bartlett into an early save from 18 yards.

49: Bozanic went close with a shot of his own three minutes later.

50: Bozanic then raced onto Hammond's ball from the right after the striker had lost his marker, but the Australian's side footer was deflected off a defender for a corner. Again he sent it in himself, but Richards placed his header from six yards the wrong side of the left post.

53: Bartlett came to the rescue again only three minutes later as Cheltenham kept up the pressure. The Hereford number one raced out to prevent Bozanic notching from inside the penalty area with his legs after he had been played in by Lee Ridley from the left.

54: Bartlett again stood between Cheltenham and their opening goal with another save, this time to deny Bird from the edge of the box.

56 DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION: Hereford boss made a pair of changes, bringing on Richard Rose (for Darren Dennehy) and Glen Southam (Matty Done).

59 GOAL: Hereford United 0-1 Cheltenham Town
Hammond broke the deadlock with the goal that looked likely after his side's purposeful start after the sides had swapped ends. The striker surged down the inside right channel and into the box before drilling a low shot under the frame of Bartlett before celebrating with his trademark flip.

67 SUBSTITUTION: Boss Allen sent on David Hutton in place of Bozanic.

73: It took 28 minutes following the interval for Hereford to craft an opportunity of their own when former Robins loanee Darren Jones out-jumped Bird at the far post and headed substitute Richard Rose's delivery from the left wide of the target.

76 GOAL Hereford United 1-1 Cheltenham Town
Frustratingly from a Cheltenham perspective, Scott Brown's first real touch of the ball arrived 14 minutes from time when he had to fish the ball out of his own net after he was beaten by Godsmark. It was hugely disappointing with Hereford looking bereft of ideas, and it went on to hand the home side the initiative in the closing stages of the game. The winger picked up the ball out on the right and went past Ridley before thumping a low shot under the Cheltenham goalkeeper to square the match.

82 SUBSTITUTION: Tom Denton replaced Hayles for the final eight minutes of the match.

90: Bartlett produced one more save to prevent Hammond grabbing a late winner after he had raced onto Brown's huge punt downfield. The striker had the ball in the back of the net seconds later but it was ruled out by the Assistant Referee.

90+2: Hereford rode their luck in injury time, Hammond cutting one back from the byline but neither Denton nor Hammond could force the ball over in chaotic scenes inside the Hereford box at the death.

HEREFORD UNITED (4-4-2): Bartlett; Green, D Jones, Dennehy (Rose 56), Valentine; Godsmark, Lunt, McQuilkin, Done (Southam 56); Constantine, Morris. Subs not used: Adamson, Tolley, Lowe, Gwynne, C Jones.

CHELTENHAM TOWN (4-4-2): Brown; Bird, Townsend, Duff, Ridley; Bozanic (Hutton 67), Pook (Diallo 11), Gallinagh, Richards; Hayles (Denton 82), Hammond. Subs not used: Richardson (Gk), Alsop, Tabor, Low.

REFEREE: S. Bratt

ATTENDANCE: 3,280 (577 from Cheltenham)

Murry Toms at Edgar Street