A late goal from Jake Hibbs earned his side a deserved point against Hereford FC at the Horsfall Stadium.

With their first attempt, the Bulls broke the deadlock as George Forsyth’s deflected strike flew past Johnny Saltmer from distance. But, with full-time approaching, Hibbs tapped home a cross from Jordan Windass to equalise.

It was the home side who created the better opportunities in the first half.

Brad Dockerty was the first player to get behind the defence, but the winger was offside after being played through on goal by the impressive Luke Rawson.

And, Rawson, who led the line, was denied his first Avenue goal by the linesman. A wonderful one-touch move saw Isaac Marriott find Akeel Francis who back-heeled the ball, first time, to the overlapping Windass. The right-back delivered a stunning delivery into the box and the number nine stretched to find the back of the net. But the linesman raised his flag for offside.

Minutes later, Rawson had another goal disallowed. A long goal-kick from Saltmer hit the Bulls defender Luke Haines. Rawson was alert to dispossess the centre-back and found the bottom corner from 16 yards. This time, the referee blew his whistle and awarded a free-kick against Rawson for a foul.

The lively striker nearly scored again, but his chip from 18 yards was tipped over the bar by the visitors’ goalkeeper Brandon Hall.

Bradford were punished for failing to score as Josh Gowling’s side took the lead. A pass into the path of Forsyth, who was free on the edge of the area, allowed the midfielder to curl a right-footed effort, helped by a deflection, into the top corner from 20 yards.

The away side grew into the game, and as Brad Dockerty left the field with an injury, Bradford came close to conceding a second goal before the break.

After Marriott was denied by Hall from 12 yards, the Bulls pushed forward. From a corner, Ryan McLean found himself unmarked, in front of goal, but nodded wide from close range.

As the rain started to get heavier in the second half, the away side contained the Avenue well and looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but failed to trouble Saltmer.

Both managers made several substitutions, and with limited opportunities on goal, Mark Bower rolled the dice and introduced youngster Rob Guilfoyle, joining Francis, Rawson and fellow substitute Oli Johnson in attack.

But, it was the players behind the front four that helped their side level the score. Windass gained possession on the halfway line and dribbled past several Bulls players before drilling a low cross across the face of goal. The energetic Hibbs was unmarked at the far post and tapped the ball into the net.

Buoyed by their goal, Bradford nearly grabbed a dramatic winner. Rawson, again, caused plenty of problems for the defence and after knocking the ball past a defender, the striker’s low right-footed effort was saved by the legs of Hall.

Bradford (Park Avenue): Saltmer, Ross, Windass, Marriott, Havern (Downing 74), Lund, Dockerty (Johnson 37), Hibbs, Rawson, Francis, Odunston (Guilfoyle 63)

Subs not used: Toulson, Hill

Hereford FC: Hall, Hodgkiss, Hancox, Haines, McLean (Ismail 45), Forsyth, Storey, Lloyd, Pollock, Vincent, Kouhyar (Pinchard 68)

Subs not used: Liburd-Hines, Klukowski, Whittingham

Goal: Forsyth (27)

Yellow cards: Lloyd, Haines

Referee: Peter Shacklady

Attendance: 490

A first-half penalty from Claudio Ofosu separated Kettering Town and Bradford (Park Avenue) at a sunny Latimer Park on the opening day of the Vanarama National League North.

The game’s only goal happened following a foul from Oli Johnson on Ofosu inside the box. The winger got back up and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Despite the hot conditions, it was an entertaining first-half with both sides having chances.

The Avenue troubled the Poppies, but Johnson’s strike from 14 yards flew over.

Minutes later, the Bradford dugout appealed for a penalty. After being put through from Isaac Marriott, Luke Rawson’s low shot from 16 yards was saved by the legs of goalkeeper Rhys Davies. The ball spun into the air and as Jake Hibbs was quick to rise highest to head the ball towards goal, the midfielder went down inside the box as Davies failed to catch the ball. The referee Richie Watkins waved the Avenue protests away and awarded a goal kick.

Then, it was the Poppies, who looked dangerous from set-pieces and long throw-ins, who were awarded a penalty. Ofosu tried to take the ball around Johnson, who stuck out his left leg and made contact with the winger. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. Ofosu got back on his feet and sent Avenue goalkeeper Johnny Saltmer the wrong way to the delight of the home supporters.

Before the half-time whistle, Paul Cox’s side hit the woodwork as defender Luke Ward smashed a volley against the crossbar from close range.

The visitors responded with an opportunity to equalise. But, after a fine delivery from Hibbs found captain Luca Havern, the defender’s header went inches wide of the post from 12 yards.

After the break, both managers made substitutions, with few attempts on goal.

But, with being behind the scoreboard, the Avenue pushed forward in the later stages of the game and somehow, failed to hit the back of the net.

Firstly, a low volley across the box from Havern found makeshift left-back Mitch Lund, but the defender blasted the ball over from 12 yards.

With the final whistle approaching, Johnson saw a left-footed effort cleared off the line from eight yards. From the rebound, new signing Akeel Francis did well under pressure to get a header on target, but the ball crashed off the underside of the bar.

Into additional time, Mark Ross saw a cross deflected by Rhys Sharpe strike the top of the crossbar and away from danger.

Seconds later, the referee blew the full-time whistle as the Poppies held on for a narrow victory.

Kettering Town: Davies, Barrett (Calder 83), Sharpe, Unwin, Ward, Dyche, Powell, Neal, Stones (Perry 52), Storher, Ofosu (Sheriff 60)

Subs not used: Crawford, Cook

Goal: Ofosu (pen 23)

Bradford (Park Avenue): Saltmer, Ross, Windass, Marriott, Havern, Lund, Nowakowski (Clee 60), Hibbs, Rawson (Francis 75), Johnson, Dockerty (Guilfoyle 57)

Subs not used: Fawcett, Bolton

Referee: Richie Watkins

Attendance: 762