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Sunday, March 15, 2015

From The Archives - Win At Carlisle Keeps Bulls Hopes Alive


For today's archive article BN goes back to March 15th 1997 and a long trip to Carlisle for Hereford United.

The Bulls were in the relegation area of Division Three at the time but three points from the game gave supporters hope that the drop to the Conference might be avoided.

We have two reports from the game:

CARLISLE UNITED 2 - 3 HEREFORD UNITED played at Brunton Park, Saturday March 15th 1997

Table-topping Carlisle United were brought down to earth as lowly Hereford inflicted the Cumbrians' first home league defeat since last November.

Struggling Hereford had another hero in keeper Trevor Wood who denied Carlisle with a string of excellent saves, leaving his best till last when he saved Owen Archdeacon's 88th-minute penalty.

United romped into the lead after just three minutes when Rory Delap's long throw was flicked home by Paul Conway at the near post.

They went further ahead through on-loan signing from Middlesbrough's Chris Freestone, who turned home a first-time volley from an Alan Smart cross.

But the visitors started their fight-back a minute later, pulling a goal back when Foster headed home from three yards, after Tony Caig could only block John Williams' eight yard shot.

The scores were level after 38 minutes when a goal -line clearance fell for John Brough who chipped the ball into the box for Foster to score with a header.

United could have retaken the lead minutes later but Alan Smart's goal was disallowed for offside.

Hereford clinched victory in the 51st minute exploiting a dreadful Dean Walling backpass that Foster ran onto before picking his spot.

HERE's another report on this game:

Carlisle crashed to their first home league defeat for over four months as struggling Hereford stunned them at Brunton Park with an amazing fightback from two goals down. The hero for the Bulls was striker Adrian Foster who grabbed a dramatic hat-trick. 

For the first sixteen minutes, however, it seemed an away win was as likely as a Tory election victory. Paul Conway pounced on Rory Delap's long throw-in after four minutes to steer a shot inside the near post and put the Cumbrians one up. Twelve minutes later Allan Smart skipped away down the right wing to centre for on-loan striker Chris Freestone to slot home goal No.2 with ease. Perhaps United eased up, as within a minute the visitors got a goal back. It was a comedy of errors as Gary Cook mis-hit his shot straight to John Williams who forced Tony Caig into a good block but Foster was waiting to calmly head home from close range. In the 38th minute, the Bulls were celebrating the equaliser. Rob Warner's corner was flicked on by Rory Delap and Owen Archdeacon had to head off the line. John Brough sent in a dinky cross and Foster was goal-side of Dean Walling to flick home his header. Shortly after this, Mervyn Day was walking along the touch line to remonstrate with the linesman as an Allan Smart effort was chalked off for offside. It was a sign of the increasing tension on the bench and worse was soon to come.

Six minutes into the second half, Walling fluffed a simple back pass and Foster raced through to easily beat Caig and put the visitors in front. It was the signal for a United siege on Hereford's goal, with Stephane Pounewatchy unleashing a powerful 30-yard drive that keeper Trevor Wood could not hold at the first attempt. Steve Hayward was next to try his luck, but his 30-yard effort was well pushed away by Wood for a corner. Walling rose powerfully to get his head to the kick, but Wood was equal to it with a good save. With time running out, United appeared to have got the break they needed when Cook handled a Paul Conway shot inside the box. Archdeacon stepped up expecting to claim his 12th goal of the season but Wood was again the hero as he moved low to his right to save the kick.