Saturday, August 13

Hereford United's bid to win promotion back to the Football League could hardly have had a more convincing start than this excellent win over their old league rivals.

The Bulls built on their good pre-season form with the sort of commanding display which will send a shudder or two through some of the other top contenders for the title.

After some of the less than scintillating home displays of last season, this was a return to the sparkling form of 2003-4 and the result could have been by an even wider margin than it eventually was.

Although Hereford had to wait until the 64th minute for their opening goal, by then the woodwork -- on two occasions -- and Scarborough goalkeeper Leigh Walker, with a couple of fine stops, had come to the Seadogs aid.

After newcomer Dean Beckwith had finally opened the scoring, the mini-flood of goals threatened to turn into a torrent and the visitors seemed highly relieved to hear the final whistle in front of a 3,105 gate.

It was Beckwith who was guilty of the first of three first-half misses which might have seen the Bulls establish even earlier control.

Green and Stansfield did their best to carve out another opening for Guy Ipoua just before the break but the cross drove the former Doncaster striker out too wide to get in a meaningful shot on goal.

When Ipoua headed Stansfield's cross against the bar five minutes after the break, Hereford might have been excused for thinking their luck was going to be out. But their perseverance paid off with the opener 14 minutes later.

Beckwith came racing in at the near post to flick his header from another dangerous, inswinging corner by Jeannin into the net.

The second goal, five minutes later, was even better.

Stansfield received a Jon Brady pass and knocked the ball back to the Australian whose fine deep cross was headed in by Ipoua.

In the 85th minute, the counter-attacking pace of the Hereford side was shown to its best advantage.

Green intercepted a Scarborough corner in his own penalty area and raced forward to the half-way line before slipping a pass to Ipoua.

The striker powered on and saw his shot pushed out by Walker but only as far as Green who followed up to blast the ball home.

Substitute Danny Carey-Bertram wrapped up the scoring.

Hereford: Mawson, Green , Mkandawire, James, Beckwith, Jeannin, Brady (Purdie 77 min), Coldicott, Ferrell, Stansfield (Car-ey-Bertram 83), Ipoua (Stanley 86). Subs not used: Brown, Blewitt.