Saturday, February 18, 2023

This Day In 2002 - Seven Goal Thiller At Boston


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)