Saturday, March 30, 2002

Hereford United missed an opportunity to safeguard their Nationwide Conference status in crashing to a disappointing 3-2 defeat at lowly Scarborough on Saturday.

In truth, the Edgar Street club were comprehensively beaten by the Seadogs who avenged a 6-0 drubbing at Edgar Street in October.

Injury-hit United, who lost influential skipper Ian Wright with a calf strain and then midfielder Ian Rodgerson (hamstring), were under pressure for long spells and were again indebted to goalkeeper Matt Baker who pulled off four outstanding saves.

Hereford made a promising start, however, taking an eighth-minute lead with a sensational 35-yard volley from striker Gavin Williams which soared over helpless Scarborugh goalkeeper Andy Woods.

And they had the final word in stoppage time when Tony James shot home from close range after John Snape had headed a Williams free kick against the crossbar.

But it was a match that United will largely wish to forget, particularly for two sloppy pieces of defending, and a bizarre penalty decision which resulted in the home team establishing a 2-1 lead five minutes before half -time.

In fact, Lincoln-based referee Wayne McIntosh must have been the only person inside the ground who spotted an alleged shirt-pulling offence by central defender James.

Although Baker got a firm hand to Steve Baker's subsequent low spot-kick, the ball flew into the top corner of the net.

Referring to the hotly-disputed penalty decision, United player-coach Phil Robinson said: "I don't think Scarborough could believe their luck when the referee pointed to the spot.

"It was a very strange decision and they were actually retreating to the half-way line to face what they thought was going to be a simple goal kick."

Curiously, the controversial decision was made only five minutes after the official had turned down a seemingly clear-cut penalty for the home side when a lunging Dean Barrick sent Jason Blunt sprawling inside the Hereford box.

There would have been few complaints from the visitors had a spot-kick been given on that occasion.

It was Blunt who seized upon hesitancy in the Hereford defence and beat Baker from close range to grab a 32nd minute equaliser for the Yorkshire club.

And Scarborough, who scored their second goal from the penalty spot, added a third within a minute of the restart when Ryan Sugden streaked clear of a stationery Hereford defence and then coolly slotted the ball beyond Baker.

HEREFORD: Baker 8, Holmes 6, Barrick 6, Robinson 6 (Elmes 69, 6), Wright (Hill 19, 6), James 7, Goodwin 6, Snape 6, Parry 6, Williams 7, Rodgerson 6 (Diamond 45, 6). Subs (not used): Evans, Quiggin.

ATTENDANCE: 1,478.