Saturday, March 23, 2002

Hereford United slumped to a comprehensive 2-0 defeat against a much slicker Morecambe outfit in the Nationwide Conference on Saturday.

The Bulls can have no complaints about the result after they were outplayed for virtually the whole of the match.

United managed only two efforts on goal -- a low drive from Phil Robinson and a last-minute strike from Gavin Williams -- while their misery was compounded by injuries to Ian Rodgerson (hamstring), Steve Piearce (ankle) and Ian Wright (head).

The Shrimps sliced open United's defence on a host of occasions but they were let down by some wayward finishing.

In fact, Morecambe's dominance was such that it was easy to forget the Lancashire club were the visitors to Edgar Street where they had never before secured a league victory.

For all their neat interplay, the visitors had to wait until the 69th minute before they broke the deadlock.

A dangerous right-wing cross from Adriano Rigoglioso fell to Ryan-Zico Black inside the six yard box and his pull back struck defender Richard Holmes -- who United have just signed on a month's loan from Notts County -- and the ball rolled into the back of the net.

John Norman sealed Morecambe's triumph in the 80th minute when he collected a cross and then guided his shot past Stuart Jones from eight yards.

Morecambe earlier thought they had taken the lead in the 12th minute when Black tucked in a rebound after Jones had tipped Rigoglioso's 22-yard drive onto a post. However, the 'goal' was ruled out for offside.

Garry Thompson should have opened the scoring in the 34th minute after he rounded Jones, but the striker scuffed his shot, allowing John Shirley to race back and make a last-ditch clearance.

And then Jones came to Hereford's rescue on the stroke of half time when he pushed away a back-post header from Norman.