On This Day - Twenty Years Ago

April 24th 2000 and Trevor Kettle is in charge of today's game.

HEREFORD United 0 - 2 Kingstonian

Hereford went into this match knowing that they hadn't won in April, and were hoping to end a run of seven games without victory, and end a home run without a victory stretching back to March 11th. Graham Turner made three changes from the side that lost 2-0 at Kettering on Saturday. Paul Sturgess was dropped along with Matt Clarke and Craig Hanson, and Ian Rodgerson, Mark Taylor and Paul Parry started. Leroy May started even though Craig Hanson had a better game against Kettering, but Williams played up-front. Tony James moved to left-back, to replace Paul Sturgess, who dropped to the substitutes bench. Paul Fewings was still absent after his bust-up with coach Graham Turner.

Hereford were the brighter team in the first half, and should have taken the lead on several occasions. However, Leroy May and Paul Parry were both guilty of missing good chances, and somehow Leroy missed when it was seemingly impossible, but he somehow managed to put the ball wide of the far post. Williams then headed over the crossbar a minute after the original effort. Ian Rodgerson also hit over after five minutes, and the veteran missed another chance at the Blackfriars End later in the half after Gavin Williams had put him through.

Against the run of play, Kingstonian took the lead with three minutes of the half left. Mark Harris scored a low shot after a corner from Colin Luckett.

The second goal came on eighty-one minutes. A Clarke clearance was intercepted by O'Connor who handballed before knocking the ball through to Pitcher. Geoff Pitcher then beat Cooksey from nine yards, but not even the Kingstonian fans could believe that the goal had been allowed to stand. Referee Mr Trevor Kettle and his assistants must have been the only people in the stadium that didn't see the offence!

Five minutes of added time were allocated on an eventful day for Kettle who booked five players on each side and sent off Gary Patterson from Kingstonian for two yellow cards. He could be in trouble with the FA for making an offensive gesture to Hereford fans whilst leaving the field. The following players were booked for fouls: May, Wright, James and Piearce from Hereford and Kadi, Patterson, Pitcher and Saunders for Kingstonian. Snape (Hereford), Farrelly and Harris (Kingstonian) were booked for dissent. Kettle was by far the worst referee seen at Edgar Street this season and left many fans steaming!

Graham Turner told the press after the game: "The referee had no understanding of the game and I felt sorry for the Kingstonian player sent off. He could now miss Kingstonian's Cup Final at Wembley."

Mark Taylor also chipped in with criticism for Kettle "He lost control of the game. He was giving yellow cards for nothing challenges. It was all very frustrating for the players."
 

Attendance = 1,527

Man of the match - Mark Taylor

Hereford - Cooksey, Lane, James, Rodgerson, Wright, White, Taylor, Snape, May, Parry, Williams

Sub(s) who came on - Clarke, Piearce, Elmes