On this day…

…in 1996 we drew 1-1 with Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup in front of 8806 at Edgar Street and in 2001 lost 1-0 away to Northwich Victoria in front of 1104.

Firstly here's a report on the Spurs game from the Independent by Ian Ridley:

THIS is what they mean by the romance of the FA Cup. Tottenham's toffs, all composure and class, took a lead through Ronny Rosenthal and at half-time it looked a formality for them. By full-time the eight-times winners were a bedraggled outfit fortunate to have clung on to their place in the competition.

Brave Hereford. The Third Division team might have given it all up as a bad job when their captain, Dean Smith, missed a penalty on the hour, but their spirit was to prevail. After John Brough, 23 tomorrow, had swiftly headed an equaliser, they might even have gone on to win and make further nonsense of a 79-place difference in English football's hierarchy.

As it is, there will now be a replay at White Hart Lane on Wednesday week, to the relief of the Spurs manager, Gerry Francis, whose organisational abilities in his work with the Tottenham defence should make them potential Cup winners. "It was the longest last 25 minutes I have ever had to suffer," he admitted.

It all conjured up memories of that Ronnie Radford "what a goal" day at Edgar Street 26 years ago when Newcastle United were sunk by a then non-League team: rain lashing down, pitch cutting up and crowd roaring full-throated support. This result may not have matched that win but at least for a modern generation to whom it is but a curio, and who probably think that the Beatles are a rip-off of Oasis, Hereford provided something new to savour.

For much of the first half it looked unlikely. There was an initial flurry as Hereford's adrenalin and first wind saw Spurs under pressure. Brough volleyed wide, the darting left-back Murray Fishlock saw his shot blocked and, with their best chance, Nicky Cross turned inside Gary Mabbutt and seemed certain to shoot home until the Spurs captain got a foot in and the ball cannoned to Ian Walker.

But there was a control to Tottenham's defending and a penetration to their attacks. Rosenthal volleyed wide from Fox's cross before Chris Armstrong blazed wide after a neat move by Fox and Darren Caskey had set him free.

It soon became third time lucky. Armstrong escaped down the right, crossed low, Teddy Sheringham's attempt to turn the ball home was blocked and it came to Caskey on the edge of the penalty area. His shot was going well wide until Rosenthal's head intervened to divert the ball home.

It seemed that Spurs might go on to win comfortably but, fortified by the break, Hereford came out with renewed determination: when you've got nothing you've got nothing to lose. Spurs, meanwhile, began to show a distaste for the mud, the wind and the rain.

They were lucky not to concede an equaliser when Dean Austin headed just wide of his own goal from one of a steady stream of high balls and crosses; they were luckier still when Smith lifted his penalty over the bar after Rosenthal and Caskey had between them brought down Tony Pounder.

"Don't worry skip, we'll get one," said Smith's central defensive partner, Brough, as he ran back and duly, three minutes later, he did. Keith Downing's corner from the right came in and Brough at the near post rose well to head the ball home.

Tottenham might have stolen it when Jason Dozzell headed down for Sheringham, whose shot from a few yards was smartly saved by Chris Mackenzie, but it was Hereford who finished the stronger. Indeed, the veteran striking partnership of Steve White and Cross, who linked cannily, almost combined for a winner, White driving Cross's low ball in from the right over the bar.

"People keep congratulating me, but at the end of the day we have not achieved that much," the Hereford manager, Graham Turner, said. It was a little harsh and probably said in disappointment, even if their best chance of progress has probably now gone.

Before the match a magnificent prize one-ton Hereford bull named Cudos was paraded; 90 minutes later, United had at least earned some of that quality for themselves.

And secondly the Northwich game - report by Terry Goodwin:

Today just had to go wrong, it started badly, got worse, and resulted in Steve Bulls debut! Hereford travelled to the Drill Field, their fans unaware that Chris Lane had been sold to Southport late last night. Many supporters saw Lane as one of the promising prospects at the club, but he had to be sold to ease financial problems at the club. So the day started pretty badly for the Bull's following.

In addition to long-term absentees, Tony James, Paul Parry and John Shirley, Graham Turner also missed Steve Piearce, who started his loan spell at Halesowen. The sale of Chris Lane meant Ian Rodgerson was brought in to fill the role on the right flank. Steve Bull was also named on the bench.

Northwich manager Keith Alexander named former Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper Lance Key in the side, and gave a debut to Richie Mitchell in attack. He partnered Adie Mike, formerly of Manchester City. Ian Robinson, a midfielder, also played his first game for the Vics.

Northwich looked the better team in the opening twenty minutes, keeping Cooksey on his toes with some testing efforts. Gavin Williams and Michael McIndoe lead the Bulls rebellion, as the pushed back into the game after a dodgy early period!

Hereford came back into the game, and almost took the lead on twenty two minutes. Gavin Williams had a good shot from an acute angle on the right-hand side of the area which Lance Key saved superbly. The effort came from a sublime pass from John Snape as he showed superb movement, passing a host of home defenders.

United showed their attacking potential again soon after, as a Davis clearance fell to Michael McIndoe. He then hit a twenty yard volley just wide of the post from outside of the area. As the half progressed, both Robinson and Mcindoe had further chances to test Lance Key.

In the second period, United looked stronger at the start, but the Northwich goal changed everything as the home side showed their supremacy as the Bulls fell apart. Ian Rodgerson's continuous work was a pleasure to watch, but good defending by the back line of Northwich resulted in a frustrating afternoon for the United faithful. Matt Clarke also played well, and he hit a good cross for Phil Robinson to knock over the crossbar when it may have been easier for him to score! Ian Rodgerson also played a vital part in the build-up to the chance.

The inevitable goal came on seventy three minutes when a Mark Devlin cross from the left was met by Victoria's recent signing from Nuneaton Borough, Richie Mitchell. The debutant headed the ball goalwards, it then came off the post, rolled along the line and Mitchell couldn't fail to score with a simple tap-in.

Graham Turner instantly responded, by replacing Michael McIndoe with Steve Bull, the veteran Wolves striker, to make his debut. However, Bull looked unfit and eventually went off fourteen minutes later with a hamstring injury having done nothing to help United's cause. He was running after a John Snape ball when he pulled up. Northwich took over, and there was no way back for the Bulls. The home side looked more alert when Bull entered the fray.

The referee, Mr. S. Tanner of Bristol, made just one booking - to Northwich defender Steve Davis for a foul early on. Overall, he didn't have that many decisions to make and kept the game at a good pace.

An awful day - first learning of Lane's sale, then letting in a dodgy goal, and finally Bully doing nothing on his debut! Roll on Tuesday night!

Hereford - Cooksey, Rodgerson, Clarke, Robinson, Wright, Wall, Snape, Sturgess, McIndoe, Elmes, Williams
Substitutions - Bull (75), Giddings (89)

Man of the Match - John Snape.

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