Scarborough 3 Hereford United 3

TOP-SCORER Steve Guinan marked his return to action with the goal that handed Hereford a point but it was keeper Matt Baker who was the real hero of Tuesday's Nationwide Conference clash.

Baker produced a string of fine saves throughout an entertaining game to make sure the Bulls came away from the McCain Stadium with something to show.

Scarborough created early chances, but a lack of concentration at the back allowed Hereford to open their account after just seven minutes.

A long ball from the back caused unneeded chaos in the home defence when Matt Redmile nodded past his own keeper Leigh Walker. Walker managed to scoop the ball off the line, but it fell straight to the feet of David Brown, who took his chance from eight yards.

This advantage could have been doubled straight after when Brown scrambled through a mass of players and rolled the ball wide to Mark Beesley, but his shot slammed into the side netting.

After some extended pressure, Scarborough eventually equalised after 30 minutes. Clint Marcelle wriggled free of two challenges and took the ball past a stranded Baker.

Despite this setback, Hereford finished the half as the better side, Chris Palmer bringing the best out of Walker with a dipping shot and Ben Smith nodding just wide.

But a five-minute spell at the beginning of the second period hit Hereford's hopes as Scarborough bagged two quick-fire goals through some deadly attacking football.

Firstly Glen Downey strode forward from the back to power a header past the helpless Baker, and then Redmile made up for his earlier error to nod in off the bar after a scramble in the penalty area.

The Bulls bounced back and within minutes Brown knocked the ball down from a lofted free-kick and Anwar Uddin smashed it home.

The introduction of Guinan with 30 minutes remaining added a new zest to Hereford's attacking play and, despite a two-month absence, he still had the scoring touch which had seen him net 18 times in 26 games.

Guinan found some space with 20 minutes left and, although he did not hit the best of shots, his effort beat the despairing dive of Walker and trickled into the net.

Keeper Baker still had time to make his name in the final stages as the hosts pushed on. He made point-blank saves from Karl Rose, Chris Senior and Jimmy Kelly to book a battling point.

Hereford: Baker, Green, Uddin, James, Craven, Williams, Smith, Pitman, Palmer (Purdie 59 min), Beesley (Guinan 59 min), Brown . Subs not used: Scott, Teesdale, Carey-Bertram.

Scarborough: Walker (Sollitt 71 min), Capper, Hotte, Redmile (Rose 77 min), Downey, Gill (Senior 46 min), Kelly, Williams, Kerr; Marcelle, Whitman. Subs not used: O'Neill, Sherlock.

Referee: C Harwood (West Yorks).

Attendance: 1,459.

Conference Stats: Sports Times 4