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Hesitation costs United dear
Below is Brian's report from the McCain Stadium:
Hereford United and Scarborough were unable to find a goal between themselves as the two sides drew 0-0 at the McCain Stadium this afternoon. A fairly uninspiring performance by both sides saw neither 'keeper troubled too much and a share of the points was just about a fair reflection of the game.
Hereford made two changes to the side that beat Forest Green Rovers; Danny Williams was injured so Graham Hyde deputised and Lee Mills replaced David Brown in the attack. However, ten minute from half time the change was reversed as Brown took the place of Mills who was injured in an earlier challenge.
Scarborough started brightly and the dangerous Chris Senior was first onto a ball over the top of Mawson but Mark Robinson was across to clear for a corner. Tyrone Thompson bought the ball down after a corner and hammered a shot at goal but Mills was back to block. Jamie Pitman struck a volley that smashed off a defender and went out for a corner as United looked to test Leigh Walker in the Boro goal.
Simon Travis sprinted down the right flank having received a pass from Pitman and got the ball back from Mills, who had taken the ball from Adam Stansfield, but his low drive was gathered by Walker to his right. Mark Robinson delivered a good cross for Stansfield however his side footed volley was easy for Walker. Graham Hyde was booked for a second rash challenge before Brown replaced Mills. The Seadogs managed to finish the half with a good passage of possesion and a shot that was saved by Craig Mawson low to his right.
The Bulls went at Boro straight from the start of the second half with Brown going close and then Craig Stanley heading over from a Rob Purdie free kick. Tony James broke up an attack and then set Hereford on the break with a ball to Brown down the left but Stansfield headed his cross well wide. Stansfield may have done better again soon after when he broke superbly down the left, but over hit his pass across goal. The Seadogs best effort of the game came from Steve Baker who smashed a dipping twenty five yarder just over Mawson's cross bar.
Captain Scott Kerr was the first of three subs to be made by boss Nicky Henry. Neil Redfearn was his replacement. Stansfield may have done better if he had shot earlier when he beat Mark Hotte to a ball over the top, but Hotte recovered well. Stansfield then provided Stanley with a decent chance, but his powerful effort was palmed away by Walker. Stanley was then hacked down while breaking from midfield and Colin Cryan, the culprit, was booked. Man of the match Robinson crossed for Brown but his header was once again easy enough for the 'keeper.
Redfearn went close with a shot that found the wrong side of the post by inches from twenty five yards before Stanley hit the side netting at the other end following good build up play by Purdie and Robinson. Stansfield played Brown in behind the defence but once again the final pass was poor and Pitman's eventual shot was off target. Stanley again shot wide after a good Hereford move and substitute Robert Gill had Boro's final shot after a good run, but the final product was wide.
A disapointing attendace of 1,609 may have been influenced by the fact that Christman is not too far away and the long distance journey that had to be made by most away fans, of which there were about 100. The defences had the better of the game and the strikers, especially in Hereford's case, need to take more chances when goalscoring opporunities arise.
HUFC Team: Mawson, Travis, Mkandawire, James, Robinson, Stanley, Pitman, Hyde, Purdie, Stansfield, Mills.
Subs: Scott, Brown, Tretton, Smith, Carey-Bertram.
SFC: Walker, Baker, Foot, Hotte, Nicholson, Thompson, Kerr, Cryan, Gilroy, Hackworth, Senior. Subs: Hayfield, Lyth, Redfearn, Gill, Burton.