A look back to February 18th 2002 and a seven goal thiller at Boston.
Elmo hero in
seven goal thriller
Boston
United 3 - 4 Hereford United
As our normal
reporters couldn't attend the game, HU-FC.co.uk's new
signing Helen Weaver provides the following report.
In a seven goal thriller at
York Street, no one expected the Bulls to take home three
points but they overcame the odds after going 2-0 down
early on.
Hereford made only one change
to the side fielded in last Tuesday’s FA Trophy game
with Hampton & Richmond Borough, for this Monday
night game with Boston, live on Sky TV. With Tony James
out through injury, Jon Hill made his first team debut
for Hereford United.
Boston started the game the
brighter of the two sides, creating many chances in front
of goal, forcing Matt Baker to make some fine stops and
rush out of his area to clear the ball. Boston continued
to put the Hereford defence under pressure, this paid off
in the sixth minute when Daryl Clare shot passed Matt
Baker to give Boston an early lead.
Boston pushed forward, making
many attempts on goal, one of which was cleared off the
line by John Shirley. Ian Rodgerson went close on ten
minutes, but his shot on goal only managed to hit the
side netting. Boston continued the better side, and on
twelve minutes Daryl Clare curled in the ball from thirty
yards out to get his, and Boston’s second goal of
the game.
With sixteen minutes of the
game gone, and Hereford trailing by two goals, Paul Parry
made a good attempt on goal, only to see it scooped up by
keeper Paul Bastock. Hereford then began to create more
chances in front of goal, and on seventeen minutes, Phil
Robinson tapped a Matt Clarke cross into the back of the
net, to bring Hereford well and truly back into the game.
Hereford continued to
pressurise Boston, as they pushed forward to find an
equaliser, which came in the twenty-third minute after a
free kick was awarded to Hereford about two yards outside
of the box. Paul Bastock, Boston keeper, failed to
collected the ball from Gavin Williams’ free kick,
and Scott Goodwin was on standby to coolly slip the ball
into the back of the net and bring both teams back onto
level terms.
With
both teams now aiming to take the lead, the game hotted
up. In the thirty fifth minute Paul Parry brought the
ball down the rightwing crossing it to Robinson in the
middle, who headed the ball in for his second goal of the
game, and Hereford to take the lead. In the fourty fifth
minute, referee Steve Brand showed Jon Hill a yellow card
for a foul on McGarry, but Matt Baker had no problem
collecting the free kick.
Boston
came out for the second half keen to get a quick
equaliser, and they created many chances, but this didn’t
stop Hereford, with Scott Goodwin and Paul Parry both
going close. With fifteen minutes of the second half
gone, Hereford made their first and only substitution of
the game, with Robin Elmes replacing Phil Robinson.
This change saw Boston regain control of the play,
and two minutes later, Mark Angel put a cross in from the
left, which was headed in by Neil Tarrant.
The
scoreline was now level for a second time, and both sides
were looking for a goal. Boston forced Matt Baker to make
a series of outstanding saves, but on seventy four
minutes, Robin Elmes headed in a superb Ian Rodgerson
cross from near the corner flag, giving Hereford the lead.
The
attacks continued from both sides, but to no avail, and
on eighty four minutes Robin Elmes was cautioned for a
push on a Boston player, but the score line remained the
same, and Hereford returned home happy with all three
points, pushing them up to ninth place in the table.
Written by Helen Weaver - 18th February 2002.
| Boston United | Hereford United |
| Paul Bastock | Matt Baker |
| Jim Rodwell | Matt Clarke |
| Mark Monington (off, 85 minutes) | John Shirley |
| Mark Clifford | Phil Robinson (off, 57 minutes) |
| James Gould | Ian Wright (captain) |
| Darren Beesley | Jon Hill |
| Mark Angel | Ian Rodgerson |
| Neil Tarrant | John Snape |
| Daryl Clare | Paul Parry |
| Simon Weatherstone | Gavin Williams |
| Steve McGarry (off, 78 minutes) | Scott Goodwin |
| Subs | Subs |
| Simon Rusk (on, 85 minutes) | Rob Elmes (on, 57 minutes) |
| Anthony Elding (on, 78 minutes) | Lee Evans |
| Kevin Evans | Jimmy Quiggin |
| Lodge | Danny Davidson |
| Conroy | |
| Yellow cards | Yellow cards |
| Gould (69 minutes, foul) | Jon Hill (45 minutes, foul) |
| Jim Rodwell (74 minutes, foul) | Gavin Williams (50 minutes, handball) |
| Rob Elmes (84 minutes, unsporting behaviour) | |
| Red cards | Red cards |
| - | - |
| Scorers | Scorers |
| Daryl Clare (6 minutes, 12 minutes) | Phil Robinson (17 minutes, 35 minutes) |
| Neil Tarrant (58 minutes) | Scott Goodwin (23 minutes) |
| Rob Elmes (75 minutes) | |
| Man of the Match | Scott Goodwin |
| Attendance | 3,013 |
| Referee | Mr. S. R. Brand (The Wirral) |