SAM Collins maintained his unbeaten record as York City caretaker manager but had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Hereford.

The Minstermen were ahead at half-time thanks to Macaulay Langstaff’s third goal of the season, but Mike McGrath earned the Bulls a share of the spoils midway through the second period.

Earlier, a fast start to the game saw four chances created during the opening five minutes.

The first three were carved out by Hereford and Harry White’s second-minute header was the easiest.

Rising high to meet Eliot Richards’ left-wing free kick, which had been conceded after Simon Heslop hauled down McGrath, White missed the target from four yards.

Moments later, Richards’ tame attempt almost caught out Adam Bartlett when it took an unexpected bobble off a lively pitch, but the City keeper parried away the danger.

Keiran Thomas also called Bartlett into action at his near post after cutting in from the right.

At the other end, meanwhile, Joe Tait headed wide of Bulls keeper Martin Horsell’s near post following a Josh Law corner.

There were then no further opportunities until Langstaff opened the scoring at the end of a flowing City move on 24 minutes.

Law spread play brilliantly to send Kallum Griffiths scurrying down the right flank.

The City full back went on to pick out Jon Parkin on the edge of the box and he guided the ball to the far post where a charging Langstaff tapped in from three yards.

In response, White’s curling 20-yard shot was comfortably gathered by Bartlett.

But the City keeper had to display sharper reflexes to repel a close-range scrambled effort by Ryan Green before White shot into the ground from the rebound eight yards out and Griffiths headed off the line.

Moments later, Bartlett also caught McGrath’s rising 25-yard attempt before the half ended after Tait’s far-post header from a left-wing Law free kick was claimed from under his crossbar by Horsell.

City continued to manage the game well after the restart with Hamza Bencherif stooping low to meet a Law free kick only for his header to be safely gathered by Horsell.

Another diagonal Law ball to the right also saw Griffiths nick the ball off Jordan lam, but his left-footed, 15-yard shot flashed wide.

But a double substitution just before the hour mark saw the home crowd find their voices and, after Bartlett made a terrific save to push away Jordan Cullinane-Liburd’s header from Jamie Bird’s free kick, Green somehow headed over from the rebound.

The hosts were level, though, on 65 minutes when McGrath’s 15-yard volley beat Bartlett far too easily to his right despite lacking any real conviction.

As the game entered its final throes, Heslop released Langstaff through the right channel but, with his angle diminishing, the City marksman sliced over.

Home sub Calvin Dinsley also drilled just off target from the edge of the box on 90 minutes, while Cullinane-Liburd headed over a vacated goal after Bartlett failed to punch McGrath’s right-wing, stoppage-time free kick.