Hereford United 0 Leeds United 0: Leeds hang on to deny Hereford fresh glory

How relieved Leeds United must be that League One life has proved nothing like as difficult to date as this hazardous FA Cup first-round tie. Hereford United, second in League Two, had them hanging on for a replay, with their centre-half John McCombe hooking just wide four minutes from the end when a corner was not cleared.

There was also a major penalty decision against the underdogs and one outstanding save by the Leeds keeper Casper Ankergren on his 28th birthday. That's how close the border town was to witnessing further folklore – famously Hereford, Ronnie Radford and all, had slain Newcastle United in 1972 in one of football's biggest giant-killings, the year in which Leeds lifted their only FA Cup.

Nineteen places rather than four divisions now separate the clubs and Sky TV's decision to make Edgar Street the starting point for this season's competition proper was based on more than those nostalgic memories.

Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City have both been held to draws here in more recent times and Leeds soon discovered that this might be an uncomfortable ride. The sell-out crowd were still settling when, with only 90 seconds gone, Matt Heath seemed to escape with a clear pull on Trevor Benjamin eight yards out.

The Leeds United manager, Dennis Wise, embarking on a three-match touchline ban and joined in the stand by his newly-appointed assistant Dave Bassett, had made four changes to the side who went to Bournemouth on Tuesday and recorded the club's eighth away victory of the season. He belatedly saw his team find their feet, Clint Easton's dreadful cross-field pass finding Seb Carole who advanced to bring a decent diving save from Wayne Brown.

Jermaine Beckford and Jonathan Douglas then failed to capitalise on hesitant defending before Hereford started the second half as they had the first. Benjamin judged Lionel Ainsworth's left-wing corner better than Ankergren and saw his glancing header clip the far post. Theo Robinson then dragged narrowly wide of the same post.

Despite losing their captain, Karl Broadhurst, with an ankle injury, Hereford, whose manager, Graham Turner, is second only to Sir Alex Ferguson for long service at one club, remained the likelier scorers, Leeds' best reply coming with a comfortably saved Ben Parker shot from outside the area.

A precious lead for Hereford was agonisingly close 10 minutes from time when Ainsworth's powerful close-range header from Easton's cross was instinctively and brilliantly pushed over the bar by Ankergren.

Hereford United (4-4-2): Brown; Rose, McCombe, Broadhurst (Taylor, 62), Threlfall; Ainsworth, Smith, Diagouraga, Easton; Robinson, Benjamin (Guinan, 72). Substitutes not used: Ingham (gk), Gwynne, Webb.

Leeds United (4-4-2): Ankergren; Marques, Huntington, Heath, Parker; Weston (Da Costa, 72), Douglas, Howson, Carole (Clapham, 90); Beckford, Kandol (Constantine, 83). Substitutes not used: Bayly, Lucas (gk).

Referee: A Bates (Staffordshire).

Hereford united ......... 0......... 

leeds united ......... 0