18 years ago today, March 30th 2002, Hereford United made the long journey to Scarborough.
Hereford United went down to their sixth defeat in eight games as Scarborough emerged victors at the McCain Stadium.
The 3-2 scoreline by which the Seadogs won does not show the difference in quality between the two. Hereford, for the most part, were lacklustre, particularly at the back where they are normal solid.
Tbe Bulls welcomed back the impressive Matt Baker to that starting eleven in place of the injured Stuart Jones, and John Snape replaced the notably-absent Matt Clarke in midfield. Also absent from the Hereford squad were John Shirley, Danny Davidson and Steve Piearce. Scarborough boss Russell Slade named ex-Hereford midfielder Gareth Stoker in midfield.
Eager to get revenge for their 6-0 defeat at Edgar Street last October, Scarborough started brightly with Stoker firing wide from a free kick twenty five yards out. Scott Goodwin went close at the other end before United took a shock lead which few in the stadium could believe had actually gone in. Gavin Williams fired a volley from thirty five yards following a Paul Parry lay off which sailed over the head of back-pedalling goalkeeper Andy Woods before dipping into the unguarded net.
Scarborough then took control, but lost debutant Andy Wright after sixteen minutes. Two minutes later, though, Hereford captain Ian Wright was taken off injured and replaced by Jon Hill. Then the problems started. Wright's captaincy was taken over by defensive partner Tony James, but the back line was visibly waeker. Scarborough found it easier to break the Bulls down, and had it not been for Baker, Hereford couls have been several goals down at the break. Karl Rose was thwarted by a last ditch save, and then Gareth Stoker wasted a couple of long range chances as the Seadogs responded.
Just past the half hour mark, midfielder Jason Blunt levelled the scores. Karl Rose beat off a challenge from James before passing to Blunt, who fired an angled drive from twelve yards past the helpless Baker. Three minutes later, United defender Dean Barrick appeared to bring down Blunt, but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty as Scarborough turned up the pressure.
Would Hereford survive to the break? No. Tony James was supposedly seen pulling the shirt of a Scarborough attacker and the referee pointed to the spot. The players, who were walking away from the penalty area, were as surprised as the fans that the spot kick was awareded. The home side took full advantage of this dubious decision, however, as Steve Baker fired a low ball which Matt Baker got a hand to before it shot into the net.
The Bulls lost Ian Rodgerson with a hamstring injury in added time, as Ross Diamond came on to make his first team debut, and Scarborough substitute David Pounder went close with a shot that missed the target by inches.
The second half started as the first had ended, with Scarborough on top. With fifty five seconds on the clock, Ryan Sugden was sent through after beating Jon Hill before firing past Baker when one-on-one with the ex-Hull City stopper.
The home side continued to have the lion's share of possession as the Bulls appeared frail at the back, but Barrick hit the bar with a cross from the left wing after fifty five minutes. Scott Jordan headed just wide as Scarborough searched for a fourth, but Paul Parry and Gavin Williams kept Woods on his toes at the other end with some promising openings. Sugden tested Baker just before the hour, but Hereford's reliable goalkeeper tipped the ball away before saving a quick rebound shot from Gareth Stoker.
Then the crucial move came that improved Hereford's chances. Coach Phil Robinson was removed for attacker Rob Elmes, and the change was immediately evident in the away side's play; they attacked more and seemed to create more openings. Ross Diamond made some impressive moves in midfield, and the Hereford attacks seemed more creative and effective. Richard Holmes headed narrowly over in a spell that saw end-to-end action, and then Tony James gave Hereford hope with a minute left. A Gavin Williams free kick on the left was headed onto the crossbar by John Snape, and after a poor clearance, defender Tony James popped up from five yards to reduce the deficit.
However, it was matter of too little, too late, much to the disappointment of the eighty or so travelling fans.
Hereford United: Matt Baker, Richard Holmes, Dean Barrick, Phil Robinson (off, 68 minutes), Ian Wright (captain, off 18 minutes,) Tony James, Scott Goodwin, John Snape, Paul Parry, Gavin Williams, Ian Rodgerson (off, 45 minutes)
Subs: Rob Elmes (on, 68 minutes), Lee Evans, Jimmy Quiggin, Ross Diamond (on, 45 minutes), Jon Hill (on, 18 minutes)
Yellow cards: John Snape (foul, 52 minutes)
Scorers: Gavin Williams (8 minutes) Tony James (89 minutes)
Man of the Match Matt Baker
Attendance 1,478
Referee Mr. W. McIntosh (Lincoln)
After the match, winning boss Russell Slade told BBC Radio York's Ivan Ash: "I didn't think we knew what to do at 3-1. The answer was quite simply keep on doing the same thing. I don't think had our shooting boots on at times, we didn't take six or seven good chances. We lifted the tempo after the early setback which was an absolute wondergoal, and I thought we got on very much on top. Hereford were at sixs and sevens, especially when they lost Wright, and we got right on top; perhaps we deserved a little more than the 2-1 at half time."
Of the penalty appeal that was turned down, Slade commented: "I thought it was a definite penalty, and I wasn't certain whether the second one was. This is the consistency that we need to be concentrating on in the game and fortunately, it fell our way."
"3-2 in injury time and you think is something else going to happen? To be fair, it would have been very, very hard on us if they had got an equaliser."
Hereford player-coach Phil Robinson was baffled by the awarded penalty, labelling it as a "bizarre" decision. "All their players were lining up as they thought he had given a goal kick, and nobody could believe it when we found out he had given a penalty. The penalty really did change the game, but we didn't press them until it was too late."