TEN-man Hereford United hit back to take an unlikely lead before gifting fellow strugglers Macclesfield a late point in npower League Two.

The game hinged on three blunders from the Hereford rearguard which could yet prove costly come the end of the season.

Keeper Adam Bartlett gave Macclesfield their first, skipper Michael Townsend was sent off for two yellow cards in a minute and Richard Rose gave the ball away to allow the equaliser.

In between, a penalty from Rob Purdie and a sweet strike by top-scorer Stuart Fleetwood had left Hereford looking unlikely winners.

Macclesfield took an 18th-minute lead, thanks to a horrid blunder by Bartlett.

Rose only partially cleared a corner and Tony Diagne helped the ball towards goal where Bartlett allowed it to slip through his legs.

But Purdie levelled on 40 minutes from the spot after Izak Reid brought down Joe Colbeck just inside the area.

A fierce drive from the Silkmen’s Paul Bolland thudded against a post before Townsend saw red on 59 minutes for conceding a free-kick and then keeping up his protests.

On 70 minutes, Hereford took an unlikely lead via Fleetwood from substitute Harry Pell’s through-ball.

But Rose gifted the leveller a minute from time, wasting a quick free-kick which allowed Macclesfield to counter with Barnett nodding in Matt Hamshaw’s cross.

Hereford: Bartlett; Green, Kovacs, Townsend, Heath; Lunt, McQuilkin (Pell 63), Rose, Purdie; Colbeck, Fleetwood. Subs not used: Weir, Preston, Featherstone, Canham, Baheng, Jervis.

Attendance: 1,975.