Saturday, March 1, 2003

PLAY-OFF contenders Hereford finished with just nine players on the pitch as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season in a lively Nationwide Conference top-of-the-table clash at title favourites Yeovil.

Striker John Grant and defensive linchpin Tony James were both sent-off by Worcester referee Steve Dorr and the pair now face being suspended for up to three matches during the club's crucial end-of-season programme.

The score-line flattered leaders Yeovil who broke the deadlock with a 24th minute header from Adam Lockwood and killed off Hereford's brave challenge with three goals in the final 13 minutes.

Hereford dominated for a 20-minute period in the second half, despite being down to 10 men, and both Steve Guinan and Paul Parry came close to scoring what would have been a deserved equaliser.

Dorr, who controversially dismissed Parry in an important bottom-of-the-table clash with Woking last season, again incensed the visitors with some of his decisions at Huish Park.

The Hereford camp hope to study a video tape of the match after Grant was, astonishingly, the only player on either side to be red-carded following a 16-man scuffle in the 34th minute.

Yeovil's Terry Skiverton, somehow, managed to escape with only a yellow card after sparking the incident by recklessly kicking out at Danny Williams as the former Chesterfield midfielder lay on the ground with the ball trapped between his legs.

But, in the melee which followed, Grant, who appeared to charge into Skiverton, was not the only player to raise an arm at an opponent. However, Grant was the only player to be given his marching orders.

Afterwards Hereford boss Graham Turner said: "I saw Skiverton kick Williams on the ground. The referee said he also saw Skiverton kicking Williams - but he did not think it was a sending-off offence."

Turner will also be reviewing the sliding challenge inside the area made by James, in stoppage time, which was deemed to be a professional foul on Kim Grant.

Hereford's misery was completed seconds later when Michael McIndoe drilled home the penalty to round off the scoring. Kevin Gall and Kirk Jackson scored the other goals.