Back in 1997, Hereford United had a chance of getting revenge on Brighton after they had put the Bulls out of the League.
The two teams met at Edgar Street in the first round of the FA Cup on November 15th.
Firstly video of the game and secondly a report.
HEREFORD United 2 Brighton 1 (report by Peter Povall)
United reaped some revenge against Brighton today following their relegation to the Vauxhall Conference at their hands in the last match of last season. The club also pickup up some much needed funds as the BBC camera's towered over the stands to record every kick for the Match Of The Day highlights that night.
The match started very well with play flowing easily and United pressurising the Brighton goal. The first opportunity United had on goal came when Minton gave the ball away to Foster deep into the Brighton half. Foster quickly moved through the thin defence and shot with a narrowing angle. The Brighton keeper made a high save.
Brighton replied quickly when Storer sent a through ball to Westcote which Murray Fishlock attempted to intercept but was beaten on pace. Westcote then played a short square ball to Maskell who tamely tried a shot past DeBont who confidently reached to hold it.
The best chance of the first half fell to Gary Cook though. The move started with Ian Foster on the left wing. He crossed the ball to Jamie Pitman who wasn't expecting it, but the ball bounced free to Brian McGorry who turned the ball over and sent it into the box. Gary Cook moved forward to intercept but a defender got a touch on the ball sending it high. Gary Cook didn't have time to compensate but did get a reasonable touch on the ball and looped it over the stranded Brighton keeper. The ball hit the face of the bar though and bounced down to the waiting keeper.
Brighton again were given an excellent chance to reply as Storer was free on the wing when his cross into the centre was completely unguarded, leaving a gapping hole in the United defence. Minton quickly ran onto the ball from midfield and drove his shot hopelessly wide of the target.
Hereford were also giving another chance on goal in the closing minutes of the first half as McGorry sent Pitman away with a through ball which he caught and paced beautifully, but his cross into the centre where Grayson was tracking, was too far forward and allowed the Brighton Keeper to collect easily.
The second half started with a chance as James McMue replaced Ian Rodgerson thanks to a calf injury. The captaincy therefore passed to Richard Walker. Brighton started the pressure with an early assualt on goal. The clearance was returned to the box where Maskell was felled by the new Captain Richard Walker as he slid a tackle in which arrived after the ball had left. The referee, Gerald Ashby, immediately pointed to the spot to give Brighton there best chance of the match.
Paul McDonald was sent in to take the penalty but his placement of the ball was contested by Andy DeBont who felt that it wasn't actually on the spot. He in fact moved the ball and was supported by the referee in his action. McDonald hit a well placed shot right to the edge of the goal, but Andy DeBont made an even better save as he dived to full stretch to reach the ball and push it out for a corner.
The returning corner came in after a slight scramble in the penalty area Warner cleared the ball up field.
Hereford's opener came just minutes later with the best collection of passes and moves during the entire game. Murray Fishlock played down the line to Foster and ran around him to gain position. Foster returned the ball, again down the line, leaving Fishlock with very little space as Smith beared down on him. His ground-ball cross into goal was run onto by Pitman from the right and a sweet little back-heal gave Grayson all the space he needed to round the keeper and simply tap into the net.
Brighton quickly obtained the upper hand though as they were gifted a corned. Paul McDonald sent the ball in and DeBont came to collect it, but didn't complete the job. The ball continued on it's way to Stuart Storer who was waiting just outside the back post to half-volley the ball powerfully home.
Brighton were given another chance just moments later as well, when Westcote sent in a low drive which DeBont failed to hold onto and a scrapy clearance was called for. The clearance was collected in defence after it had been returned, and Fishlock sent a long ball out to Pitman who in turn sent the ball out to Foster on the wing allowing him to use his pace to beat the defender and cross to the centre where James McCue got a toe to the ball but still sent it wide.
Barely a minute later and James McCue was again striking on goal as his shot slid over the bar from just outside the penalty area.
Almost as quickly again, Fishlock released the ball to Foster on the wing who tried to turn inside Smith and open the angle on goal. Smith was not prepared to give in though and their struggle which started a yard outside the penalty area ended with Foster being pushed to the ground. Again Ashby had call to point straight for the spot.
Neil Grayson came forward to take the penalty. His vicious left foot shot grazed the underside of the bar and drilled the ball down into the back of the net for his second goal of the match.
Almost immediately from the restart Hereford went in search of a third. Foster sprinted down the wing with the ball at his feet and then crossed to Grayson in the centre, who in turned flicked it on with his head to James McCue, who controlled the ball fairly well but then blasted his shot wide of the goal and deep into the home fans.
The match closed with some very scrappy play as United clung to their victory position and Brighton threw everything into the final moments.
United reaped some revenge against Brighton today following their relegation to the Vauxhall Conference at their hands in the last match of last season. The club also pickup up some much needed funds as the BBC camera's towered over the stands to record every kick for the Match Of The Day highlights that night.
The match started very well with play flowing easily and United pressurising the Brighton goal. The first opportunity United had on goal came when Minton gave the ball away to Foster deep into the Brighton half. Foster quickly moved through the thin defence and shot with a narrowing angle. The Brighton keeper made a high save.
Brighton replied quickly when Storer sent a through ball to Westcote which Murray Fishlock attempted to intercept but was beaten on pace. Westcote then played a short square ball to Maskell who tamely tried a shot past DeBont who confidently reached to hold it.
The best chance of the first half fell to Gary Cook though. The move started with Ian Foster on the left wing. He crossed the ball to Jamie Pitman who wasn't expecting it, but the ball bounced free to Brian McGorry who turned the ball over and sent it into the box. Gary Cook moved forward to intercept but a defender got a touch on the ball sending it high. Gary Cook didn't have time to compensate but did get a reasonable touch on the ball and looped it over the stranded Brighton keeper. The ball hit the face of the bar though and bounced down to the waiting keeper.
Brighton again were given an excellent chance to reply as Storer was free on the wing when his cross into the centre was completely unguarded, leaving a gapping hole in the United defence. Minton quickly ran onto the ball from midfield and drove his shot hopelessly wide of the target.
Hereford were also giving another chance on goal in the closing minutes of the first half as McGorry sent Pitman away with a through ball which he caught and paced beautifully, but his cross into the centre where Grayson was tracking, was too far forward and allowed the Brighton Keeper to collect easily.
The second half started with a chance as James McMue replaced Ian Rodgerson thanks to a calf injury. The captaincy therefore passed to Richard Walker. Brighton started the pressure with an early assualt on goal. The clearance was returned to the box where Maskell was felled by the new Captain Richard Walker as he slid a tackle in which arrived after the ball had left. The referee, Gerald Ashby, immediately pointed to the spot to give Brighton there best chance of the match.
Paul McDonald was sent in to take the penalty but his placement of the ball was contested by Andy DeBont who felt that it wasn't actually on the spot. He in fact moved the ball and was supported by the referee in his action. McDonald hit a well placed shot right to the edge of the goal, but Andy DeBont made an even better save as he dived to full stretch to reach the ball and push it out for a corner.
The returning corner came in after a slight scramble in the penalty area Warner cleared the ball up field.
Hereford's opener came just minutes later with the best collection of passes and moves during the entire game. Murray Fishlock played down the line to Foster and ran around him to gain position. Foster returned the ball, again down the line, leaving Fishlock with very little space as Smith beared down on him. His ground-ball cross into goal was run onto by Pitman from the right and a sweet little back-heal gave Grayson all the space he needed to round the keeper and simply tap into the net.
Brighton quickly obtained the upper hand though as they were gifted a corned. Paul McDonald sent the ball in and DeBont came to collect it, but didn't complete the job. The ball continued on it's way to Stuart Storer who was waiting just outside the back post to half-volley the ball powerfully home.
Brighton were given another chance just moments later as well, when Westcote sent in a low drive which DeBont failed to hold onto and a scrapy clearance was called for. The clearance was collected in defence after it had been returned, and Fishlock sent a long ball out to Pitman who in turn sent the ball out to Foster on the wing allowing him to use his pace to beat the defender and cross to the centre where James McCue got a toe to the ball but still sent it wide.
Barely a minute later and James McCue was again striking on goal as his shot slid over the bar from just outside the penalty area.
Almost as quickly again, Fishlock released the ball to Foster on the wing who tried to turn inside Smith and open the angle on goal. Smith was not prepared to give in though and their struggle which started a yard outside the penalty area ended with Foster being pushed to the ground. Again Ashby had call to point straight for the spot.
Neil Grayson came forward to take the penalty. His vicious left foot shot grazed the underside of the bar and drilled the ball down into the back of the net for his second goal of the match.
Almost immediately from the restart Hereford went in search of a third. Foster sprinted down the wing with the ball at his feet and then crossed to Grayson in the centre, who in turned flicked it on with his head to James McCue, who controlled the ball fairly well but then blasted his shot wide of the goal and deep into the home fans.
The match closed with some very scrappy play as United clung to their victory position and Brighton threw everything into the final moments.