YORK City’s momentum took a hit at Hereford as the Bulls equalised late in an underwhelming 1-1 draw.

In a halting, jalting National League North encounter, York worked hard but did not reach the heights of Tuesday night, when they looked so impressive in victory at AFC Fylde.

On one of their longest away trips of the season, City never really got going and a draw was probably a fair reflection of a game in which the elements made it hard for both sides.

Returning midfielder Michael Woods put City ahead just before the break following a rare moment of quality.

But Maziar Kouhyar struck with six minutes to go to ensure the honours were shared between the two play-offs hopefuls.

Still, that City leave Edgar Street somewhat disappointed with a draw - regardless of the manner - is testament to how far the side has come under John Askey.

The City boss was forced into making one change from the 11 that started the win at AFC Fylde as in-form on-loan midfielder Mitch Hancox was not allowed to play against his parent club.

In his stead came Woods, who had not played for York since the late-January defeat at Kidderminster Harriers.

He started alongside AJ Greaves, who kept his place after a superb performance at Fylde, with usual midfield enforcer Akil Wright dropping into centre-back to partner Maxim Kouogun.

Club captain Matty Brown started the day on the bench after two games absent with injury.

There were four changes for Hereford from their 1-0 defeat to Southport the weekend before. Young keeper Andreas Sondeaard, on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, was dropped in favour of captain Brandon Hall.

Jared Hodgkiss missed out with a hamstring injury, with Jamie Egan and Momodou Touray dropping to the bench. Egan was replaced by the experienced Krystian Pearce, who was returning from suspension, while Dinesh Gillela and Ryan McLean also made the starting 11.

Having signed on loan from Championship outfit West Bromwich Albion on the day of the fixture, 19-year-old target man Modou Faal started the day on the bench.

City never really got going in a bitty opening quarter of an hour. Hereford enjoyed some flurries of final-third activity in the opening couple of minutes but created nothing of substance, while the sum total of York's attack was getting the ball in the Hereford box a couple of times.

Where in midweek, the midfield was the cornerstone of City's win, it lacked any sort of cohesion on Saturday, routinely losing the ball either through poor passing or failing to anticipate team-mates' intentions.

Hereford were enjoying much more of the territory, having a corner cleared after Luke Haines headed it back across goal before Tom Owen-Evans the goalscorer in Hereford's 1-0 win in York earlier this season did well to beat Scott Barrow in the box.

The Bulls were inches away from breaking the deadlock just after the half-hour mark. Haines drove an effort on target, which Pete Jameson got down well for and turned away for a corner. On the second phase from the set piece, Maziar Kouhyar curled a wonderful left-footed strike against the crossbar.

But York made the all-important impact in first-half stoppage time. McLaughlin dinked a delightful ball into the area, where it was flicked on by former Hereford striker Lenell John-Lewis and Woods poked home from very close range.

Akil Wright collected the game's first yellow card 10 minutes after the break when he riskily pulled down Miles Storey near the edge of the area. Duckworth was on hand to head Kouhyar's delivery to safety.

Hereford played a dangerous game of their own 10 minutes later when Jack McKay was bundled over to the left of the area. The winger left the field, to be replaced by Kurt Willoughby, and with the substitute pressuring the defence, the ball in from the free kick was cleared for a corner.

As in the first half, much of the disjointed play was confined to the central areas of the pitch, with the fairly strong wind playing its part at times. A Barrow throw in was blown straight off the back of the pitch.

City edged the second-half shots-on-goal tally, though they were not particularly threatening. Greaves who looked a touch better than in the first half dragged an effort wide from range when the midfielder found himself the furthest man forward, before Willoughby curled an effort straight into the arms of Hall from a narrow angle.

Duckworth was in the right place at the right time with a goal-saving block on the line with seven minutes to go after Owen-Evans had turned Greaves in the area and crossed for Pearce, whose effort beat Jameson but not the right-back.

But Hereford did not have to wait long for the equaliser. Just a minute later, Owen-Evans laid off for Kouhyar after Storey won the ball back and the Afghan international struck low to Jameson's right.

Hereford: Hall, Haines (Faal 68), Pearce, McLean (Pinchard 62), Owen-Evans, Storey, Pollock, Vincent (Patten 76), Kouhyar, Revan, Gillela. Subs not used: Egan, Touray.

Goals: Kouhyar (84)

Yellow cards: Owen-Evans

York: Jameson 6, Duckworth 6, Wright 5, Kouogun 6, Barrow 4, Greaves 5, Woods 5 (Brown 5, 76), McLaughlin 5, Dyson 5, John-Lewis 4, McKay 4 (Willoughby 5, 66). Subs not used: Campbell, Haase, Willoughby, Donaldson.

Star man: Michael Duckworth. One of few players who looked comfortable on the ball, and his block was as good as a goal. A shame it did not secure the win.

Goals: Woods (45+1)

Yellow cards: Wright

Referee: Matthew Scholes

Attendance: 1,982

Stats for Hereford | York

Shots (on target): 8 (2) | 6 (3); Corners: 4 | 3; Offsides: 0 | 1; Fouls: 12 | 13; Yellow cards: 1 | 1