Saturday, March 29, 2003

AN AGONISING stoppage-time winner from two-goal striker Jean-Michel Sigere shattered Hereford's play-off dreams in a dramatic Nationwide Conference clash at Edgar Street.

The Kent club's shock smash-and-grab raid was inspired by a man-of-the-match display from Phil Smith, who made a string of brilliant saves, including an incredible double stop just before Sigere broke Hereford's hearts with an irreparable sucker-punch.

Despite having the better opening, Hereford found themselves 2-0 down after just 19 minutes, which included one of the most bizarre goals scored at Edgar Street.

Sigere opened the scoring with Margate's first attack on 12 minutes, following up a shot from Phil Collins after Matt Baker had dropped a corner.

And Hereford's plight worsened seven minutes later when Collins doubled Margate's lead with an astonishing 45-yard clearance which deceived the hapless Baker.

Collins hoofed a clearance skywards from just inside the Hereford half and turned his back as the flight of the ball caught out Baker and squeezed inside the goalkeeper's right-hand post.

Jay Saunders then had a headed goal disallowed for offside but the turnaround came after former Bristol City player Albano Correia rattled the Margate crossbar with a drive on four minutes and Karl Hawley, on loan from Walsall, was denied by Smith after bursting clear.

Paul Parry pulled a goal back for Hereford in the 37th minute, collecting a ball on the edge of the box and firing a low shot which Smith diverted into the top corner.

Smith made a brilliant save to keep out Parry's free-kick on the stroke of half-time and Hereford dominated the second period, deservedly equalising in the 82nd minute through substitute Steve Guinan.

Smith then made a fine save from Hawley's point-blank effort in the 88th minute and he came to the visitors' rescue in stoppage time, making a brilliant double save to thwart Ben Smith and Hawley, before disaster struck for Hereford as they pushed forward in stoppage-time.

Seizing on Correia's slip, Leon Braithwaite sent Sigere racing clear and the striker calmly rounded Baker before sliding a low shot into the net to deliver the ultimate knock-out blow.