Central defender Dean Beckwith apologised to his Hereford team mates after giving away an own goal in the Bulls' 1-1 draw against Hartlepool at Edgar Street.

Beckwith attempted to head the ball clear over the cross bar three minutes into the second half but it flashed past goalkeeper Craig Samson into the roof of the net.

It proved to be the turning point of the game after the Bulls had taken the lead through striker Steve Guinan in the 18th minute.

It was Guinan's 60th goal in Hereford colours but the Bulls should have gone further ahead before the break having failed to take advantage of clear cut openings.

"I thought we had a very good first half and should have gone in at the interval with more than a one goal lead," said Hereford manager Graham Turner.

"We paid heavily for a sloppy start to the second half and in the end we settled for a point because they were on top and could have scored.

"Dean has just apologised to the rest of the lads - he tried to head it over the bar but we should have got it away before the cross went in.

"They were a threat with a big lad (Kevin Kyle) up front and had a lot of mobility around him especially late into the game. We could have paid an even heavier penalty for the misses in the first half but as I have said before if you cannot win the game don't lose it and that is not being negative."

Stand in captain Ben Smith also thought that they had opportunities to have won the game.

"It was a game of two halves - we totally dominated the first and rightly went ahead and also had other chances," said Smith.

"If we had gone two up before the break I think we would have gone on and won. A draw was a fair result but we are disappointed not to have won."

Hereford made two changes with goalkeeper Samson and Richard Rose replacing the injured Chris Weale and Richard Jackson.

Hartlepool gained a corner in the opening minute but it was Hereford who almost took the lead in a counter attack when Lionel Ainsworth raced clear but his low shot was saved by keeper Jan Budtz.

Striker Guinan also forced Budtz to tip the ball around the post with an overhead minutes later.

Hereford kept up the pressure with Guinan opening up the shaky Hartlepool defence which presented Matt Done with a clear cut chance but his low shot went inches wide of the far up right..

Down at the other end goalkeeper Samson smothered the ball at the feet of Michael MacKay before Kyle headed over the cross bar.

Back came Hereford with wing back Kris Taylor finding Andy Williams on the six yard line but his header failed to find the target. But Hereford's dominance eventually paid off in the 18th minute when Guinan turned a cross from Ainsworth into the net at the second attempt.

Shortly afterwards Ainsworth had a chance to put the Bulls further in front when his downward header was well saved by Budtz.

Ainsworth continued to mesmerise the visiting defenders with a penetrating run beating four players before releasing the ball to Guinan who forced Budtz into action again on the goal line.

Goalkeeper Budtz was in action minutes later again to save a header from Gowling.

But although the Bulls failed to find the target again they deserved to be in front at the interval after their positive approach.

Early in the second half Hartlepool's Matt Robson went close to levelling for the visitors but his low show whizzed wide of the post.

But within three of the re-start Beckwith headed into his own net when attempting to clear.

Hereford responded with Ainsworth shooting into the side netting from 15 yards while Ben Clark shot wide of the Bulls' goalmouth at the other end.

Samson also punched clear a Johnny Rowell corner away to safety and then saved from Robson.

Striker Kyle also had Samson at full stretch with a 20-yard drive but in a counter attack Toumani Diagouraga had a 25-yard drive saved by Budtz.

Back came the visitors with Liddle going close but Hereford held firm for Ainsworth to race clear but his cross beat both striker Williams and keeper Budtz as it flashed across the goalmouth.

Four minutes from time substitute Andy Monkhouse should have snatched a victory for Hartlepool but he volleyed high over the cross bar from close range.

Hereford: Samson, Rose, Gowling, Beckwith, Taylor, Ainsworth, Smith, Diagouraga (Easton 81), Done, Guinan, Williams. Subs not used: Hudson-Odoi, Gwynne, Broadhurst, Chadwick.

Hartlepool: Budtz, Sweeney (McCunnie 73), Collins, Nelson, Humphreys, Rowell, Clark (Monkhouse 85), Liddle, Robson, Mackay (Foley 63), Kyle. Subs not used: Power, Cook.