Two match reports from the game between Carlisle and Hereford played on March 15th 1997.
Video from the game was posted on BN earlier this morning.
CARLISLE 2 Hereford 3
Table-topping Carlisle United were brought down to earth as lowly
Hereford inflicted the Cumbrians' first home league defeat since last
November.
Struggling Hereford had another hero in keeper Trevor Wood who denied
Carlisle with a string of excellent saves, leaving his best till last
when he saved Owen Archdeacon's 88th-minute penalty.
United romped into the lead after just three minutes when Rory Delap's
long throw was flicked home by Paul Conway at the near post.
They went further ahead through on-loan signing from Middlesbrough Chris
Freestone, who turned home a first-time volley from an Alan Smart
cross.
But the visitors started their fight-back a minute later, pulling a goal
back when Foster headed home from three yards, after Tony Caig could
only block John Williams' eight yard shot.
The scores were level after 38 minutes when a goal -line clearance fell
for John Brough who chipped the ball into the box for Foster to score
with a header.
United could have retaken the lead minutes later but Alan Smart's goal was disallowed for offside.
Hereford clinched victory in the 51st minute exploiting a dreadful Dean
Walling backpass that Foster ran onto before picking his spot.
HERE's another report on this game:
CARLISLE UNITED 2 - 3 HEREFORD UNITED
At Brunton Park, Saturday March 15th 1997
CARLISLE CRASHED to their first home league defeat for over four months
as struggling Hereford stunned them at Brunton Park with an amazing
fightback from two goals down. The hero for the Bulls was striker Adrian
Foster who grabbed a dramatic hat-trick. For the first sixteen minutes,
however, it seemed an away win was as likely as a Tory election
victory. Paul Conway pounced on Rory Delap's long throw-in after four
minutes to steer a shot inside the near post and put the Cumbrians one
up. Twelve minutes later Allan Smart skipped away down the right wing to
centre for on-loan striker Chris Freestone to slot home goal No.2 with
ease. Perhaps United eased up, as within a minute the visitors got a
goal back. It was a comedy of errors as Gary Cook mis-hit his shot
straight to John Williams who forced Tony Caig into a good block but
Foster was waiting to calmly head home from close range.
In the 38th
minute, the Bulls were celebrating the equaliser. Rob Warner's corner
was flicked on by Rory Delap and Owen Archdeacon had to head off the
line. John Brough sent in a dinky cross and Foster was goal-side of Dean
Walling to flick home his header. Shortly after this, Mervyn Day was
walking along the touch line to remonstrate with the linesman as an
Allan Smart effort was chalked off for offside. It was a sign of the
increasing tension on the bench and worse was soon to come.
Six minutes into the second half, Walling fluffed a simple back pass and
Foster raced through to easily beat Caig and put the visitors in front.
It was the signal for a United siege on Hereford's goal, with Stephane
Pounewatchy unleashing a powerful 30-yard drive that keeper Trevor Wood
could not hold at the first attempt. Steve Hayward was next to try his
luck, but his 30-yard effort was well pushed away by Wood for a corner.
Walling rose powerfully to get his head to the kick, but Wood was equal
to it with a good save.
With time running out, United appeared to have
got the break they needed when Cook handled a Paul Conway shot inside
the box. Archdeacon stepped up expecting to claim his 12th goal of the
season but Wood was again the hero as he moved low to his right to save
the kick.