A slow news day so far has allowed BN to delve back into its archives with a look at the game which took place 16 years ago today.
Nov 25th 2000:
HEREFORD UNITED 1 - 1 BOSTON UNITED
Boston, newly promoted to the Conference, were expected to do best out of the three new sides but lay in twelth place on Saturday morning, behind both Dagenham and Leigh RMI. Hereford, scoring eleven goals in their last three games including three in their last match against Forest Green, were third and just one point ahead of Southport.
Paul Parry and John Shirley were still missing from the Hereford squad. Central defender Tony James missed out through injury so James Wall started his first match of the season alongside Ian Wright. Ian Rodgerson made the match after suffering a knock in training and lined up on the right side of midfield. Paul Sturgess retained his place at left-back with Matt Clarke having to settle for a place on the bench.
Boston welcomed back three players after suspension. Jim Dick and Colin Hoyle were named in the starting line-up, but Paul Watson not featuring after failing a fitness test with a toe injury. The away side fielded Paul Fewings up-front, who was Hereford's top scorer last season. Boston manager Steve Evans was serving a touchline ban and so was unable to dictate proceedings from pitchside.
From the start, Hereford took the game to Boston and in the opening minute, Michael McIndoe tested goalkeeper Paul Bastock from thirty yards but Bastock saved the strong effort. Bastock, formerly of Kettering Town and Sabah in Malaysia, has spent nine seasons at Boston but didn't impress this afternoon.
Rob Elmes, who lined up alongside fellow striker Gavin Williams, put Bastock back inot the action on five minutes when he hit a good shot on target. Attacking towards the Meadow End, Gavin Williams hit a superb cross into the box and Michael McIndoe hit the ball wide of the post without calling Bastock into action.
The away side showed their attacking potential soon after as Andy Turner, formerly of Tottenham and Wolves and on-loan from Rotherham, knocked a good cross to Boston striker Ken Charlery but his header was saved by Cooksey. Charlery moved from Barnet earlier in the season after successful spells at Stockport County and Peterborough United.
Cooksey was called to make another save on the half-hour mark when Andy Turner hit a cross from the Boston left and Cooksey was forced to push the ball over. Chris Lane showed his attacking potential yet again as he hit a screaming thrity five yard effort goalwards, but Bastock was capable of keeping it out, tipping it over the bar. Ian Wright headed the resulting corner wide of the post.
After the half-time interval, Boston took the lead after Hereford pressure had failed to result in a goal. Scott Cooksey tipped a Gary Mills shot away for a corner on fifty eight minutes, and the Mills corner allowed centre back Lee Howarth, formerly of Barnet and Mansfield amongst many others, to hit the ball past Cooksey from close range.
The goal put life back into the game, and Hereford started attacking once again with more life. Gavin Williams left the arena after suffering a strain, and was replaced by Steve Piearce, and Ian Rodgerson, who hadn't looked fit for most of the game, was taken off for Matt Clarke. Rodgerson only made the match after a late fitness test, so was not fully fit.
Thirteen minutes later, they levelled the scored after a long throw in from Paul Sturgess, who hadn't had the best of games, picked out Elmes. The former Halesowen striker found his old team mate at the Grove, Matt Clarke, who scored from six yards out. A goalmouth scramble by Boston attempted to clear the ball, but they failed as the Bulls equalised.
With both sides attacking, it was Hereford United who looked like snatching all three points as Steve Piearce twice missed close range chances, both which crept wide of the post when one-on-one with Bastock.
Mark Rawle entered the fray as Paul Fewings was taken off. Fewings was ineffective for much of the afternoon and towards the end looked as if he may have been sent off as he made several challenges which the referee missed. He was booked just three minutes before being brought off, for a foul. Mills was also cautioned five minutes from the end for time wasting.
The referee, Mr. S. Hapgood of Swindon, was not at his best this afternoon and missed many fouls and pushes. His assistants, Mr Sareinson and Mr Hendley, were not completely blameless as both made decisions which confused the game further. Michael McIndoe played well for United with a sturdy performance, and was again awarded the man-of-the-match despite being booked in the third minute for a foul.
Hereford drop a place in the table as Southport beat Dagenham 1-0 and go above United, still with a game in hand. Hereford lie in fourth and are still eight points behind leaders Yeovil Town who drew 2-2 at Scarborough, the home side equalising late on through a Betts penalty. Meanwhile, Boston United's point moves them up by one place to eleventh after Telford United match against Doncaster was postponed.
Hereford - Cooksey, Lane, Sturgess, Robinson, Wright, Wall, Rodgerson, Snape, McIndoe, Elmes, Williams
Substitutions - Piearce, Clarke
Man of the Match - Michael McIndoe
HEREFORD UNITED 1 - 1 BOSTON UNITED
Boston, newly promoted to the Conference, were expected to do best out of the three new sides but lay in twelth place on Saturday morning, behind both Dagenham and Leigh RMI. Hereford, scoring eleven goals in their last three games including three in their last match against Forest Green, were third and just one point ahead of Southport.
Paul Parry and John Shirley were still missing from the Hereford squad. Central defender Tony James missed out through injury so James Wall started his first match of the season alongside Ian Wright. Ian Rodgerson made the match after suffering a knock in training and lined up on the right side of midfield. Paul Sturgess retained his place at left-back with Matt Clarke having to settle for a place on the bench.
Boston welcomed back three players after suspension. Jim Dick and Colin Hoyle were named in the starting line-up, but Paul Watson not featuring after failing a fitness test with a toe injury. The away side fielded Paul Fewings up-front, who was Hereford's top scorer last season. Boston manager Steve Evans was serving a touchline ban and so was unable to dictate proceedings from pitchside.
From the start, Hereford took the game to Boston and in the opening minute, Michael McIndoe tested goalkeeper Paul Bastock from thirty yards but Bastock saved the strong effort. Bastock, formerly of Kettering Town and Sabah in Malaysia, has spent nine seasons at Boston but didn't impress this afternoon.
Rob Elmes, who lined up alongside fellow striker Gavin Williams, put Bastock back inot the action on five minutes when he hit a good shot on target. Attacking towards the Meadow End, Gavin Williams hit a superb cross into the box and Michael McIndoe hit the ball wide of the post without calling Bastock into action.
The away side showed their attacking potential soon after as Andy Turner, formerly of Tottenham and Wolves and on-loan from Rotherham, knocked a good cross to Boston striker Ken Charlery but his header was saved by Cooksey. Charlery moved from Barnet earlier in the season after successful spells at Stockport County and Peterborough United.
Cooksey was called to make another save on the half-hour mark when Andy Turner hit a cross from the Boston left and Cooksey was forced to push the ball over. Chris Lane showed his attacking potential yet again as he hit a screaming thrity five yard effort goalwards, but Bastock was capable of keeping it out, tipping it over the bar. Ian Wright headed the resulting corner wide of the post.
After the half-time interval, Boston took the lead after Hereford pressure had failed to result in a goal. Scott Cooksey tipped a Gary Mills shot away for a corner on fifty eight minutes, and the Mills corner allowed centre back Lee Howarth, formerly of Barnet and Mansfield amongst many others, to hit the ball past Cooksey from close range.
The goal put life back into the game, and Hereford started attacking once again with more life. Gavin Williams left the arena after suffering a strain, and was replaced by Steve Piearce, and Ian Rodgerson, who hadn't looked fit for most of the game, was taken off for Matt Clarke. Rodgerson only made the match after a late fitness test, so was not fully fit.
Thirteen minutes later, they levelled the scored after a long throw in from Paul Sturgess, who hadn't had the best of games, picked out Elmes. The former Halesowen striker found his old team mate at the Grove, Matt Clarke, who scored from six yards out. A goalmouth scramble by Boston attempted to clear the ball, but they failed as the Bulls equalised.
With both sides attacking, it was Hereford United who looked like snatching all three points as Steve Piearce twice missed close range chances, both which crept wide of the post when one-on-one with Bastock.
Mark Rawle entered the fray as Paul Fewings was taken off. Fewings was ineffective for much of the afternoon and towards the end looked as if he may have been sent off as he made several challenges which the referee missed. He was booked just three minutes before being brought off, for a foul. Mills was also cautioned five minutes from the end for time wasting.
The referee, Mr. S. Hapgood of Swindon, was not at his best this afternoon and missed many fouls and pushes. His assistants, Mr Sareinson and Mr Hendley, were not completely blameless as both made decisions which confused the game further. Michael McIndoe played well for United with a sturdy performance, and was again awarded the man-of-the-match despite being booked in the third minute for a foul.
Hereford drop a place in the table as Southport beat Dagenham 1-0 and go above United, still with a game in hand. Hereford lie in fourth and are still eight points behind leaders Yeovil Town who drew 2-2 at Scarborough, the home side equalising late on through a Betts penalty. Meanwhile, Boston United's point moves them up by one place to eleventh after Telford United match against Doncaster was postponed.
Hereford - Cooksey, Lane, Sturgess, Robinson, Wright, Wall, Rodgerson, Snape, McIndoe, Elmes, Williams
Substitutions - Piearce, Clarke
Man of the Match - Michael McIndoe