On this day in 1998 Hereford played Doncaster in the Conference.
A look back:
HEREFORD United 1 Doncaster Rovers 0 (report by Peter Povall)
With
good vocal support from the terraces and poor opposition on the field,
Hereford made heavy weather of this match and still needed a penalty to
break the deadlock.
This was even more surprising as Doncaster had been reduced to 10 men just minutes before the break.
The
game started in scrappy fashion. School football came to find as the
ball was hoofed into the air again and again. Scuffles below it, trying
to receive the ball first.
Doncaster started the stronger of the
two teams. Within 5 minutes they found themselves in a goalmouth
struggle and eventually sent the ball wide of the post. Minutes later
and they were back again for another try. This time the shot was
powerful and turned just outside the post.
Doncasters pressure
forced United's Mark Jones into making a high save. Jones actually
dropped the ball but then fell upon it as if it were gold.
United
did make some progress into Doncaster's half but they were having
difficulties coming to terms with the off-side trap, which thwarted many
United charges.
Their first real chance came after 20 minutes
when Dyer beat a couple of defenders in the corner then sent a low cross
across the area which Mark Druce fired well over the bar.
Maintaining
their pressure though, and finding a way through the trap, Leabeater
made an excellent run down the right wing and into the edge of the area.
The then tried to cross the ball square to Dyer but it was intercepted
and sent back out to Druce. Druce hit it straight back at goal, but the
lack of power allowed it to waver off target. Dyer just wasn't quick
enough to get back and simply turn the ball into the net.
With United now finding the gaps in Doncasters defence more easily, the game took a nasty turn.
The
first of Doncasters six bookings was the result of an evil tackle by
Simon Shaw. He frankly had no intention of playing the ball and dropped
the man on the touch-line.
Following an excellent run from
Leadbeater once again, he beat 4 men in the process, Mark Druce forced a
corner. Taylor placed it about midway into the box and it was cleared
with some ease.
The attacks Hereford produced also provided
Doncaster with enough opportunities to gain some Yellow Cards. Usually
for last man tackles.
Ian Rodgerson played a reasonable game and
showed up just before the break when he produced a great cross to the
back post. Dyer rose to meet it and fired a header straight at the
keeper. A little more power or better placement would have produced the
opener.
Doncaster were reduced to 10 men just 3 minutes before
the break. Shaw produced another savage tackle, bringing down
Leadbeater, right infront of the referee who went straight for his book.
The Doncaster players crowded around them which resulted in Number 7
being booked for descent.
The second half started scrappy
aswell. Doncaster were again first to provide pressure but United soon
got a grip and held them at bay for the majority of the half.
The
best chance Doncaster had came in the 71st minute when Ian Duerden beat
his man and found himself in space with only the keeper to beat. He
struck a great shot across the goal. Jones dived well right and parried
the ball back into play. Ian Wright was first to it and cleared to the
midfield.
With United back on top, Doncaster were starting to
fold at the back. The loss of a defender and maybe the fear of another
red card, with four yellow cards having been issued to the remaining
players, United gained easier access to the Doncaster area. With just 12
minutes to play, another felling in the area gave United the break they
needed.
With Mark Druce already substituted, Richard Leadbeater
stepped forward to take the penalty. He stood at the edge of the area
until the referee had calmed the players down and then moved forward to
the spot. He calmly placed the ball, stepped away, waiting for the
whistle, then drilled the ball into the top right corner.
The United fans went mad. The Doncaster fans tried a pitch invasion which thankfully failed.
United
weren't out of the woods yet though. The closing five minutes saw the
majority of play in United's last third of the pitch. Attack after
attack came from Doncaster. Even their keeper came the full length of
the pitch to get involved. Time after time United cleared to retain
their narrow victory.
Hereford: Jones, Lane, Clarke, Downing, Wright, Evans, Dyer, Taylor, Leadbetter, Rodgerson, Druce
Att: 2115