Saturday, March 15, 2003

SCARBOROUGH inflicted a damaging blow to Hereford's play-off aspirations in an incident-packed Nationwide Conference clash at the McCain Stadium.

Although Paul Parry's headed equaliser in first-half stoppage-time lifted Hereford's spirits, the Edgar Street club returned home empty-handed despite the second-half heroics of goalkeeper Matt Baker, who dived full-length to keep out a well-struck 63rd-minute penalty from Paul Shepherd.

United struggled to produce anything near their best form against a direct Scarborough side, whose fleet-footed frontmen Gary Cohen and Cleveland Taylor caused countless problems for the Hereford defence, particularly after the interval.

Without the steadying influence of Tony James, United's rearguard looked vulnerable and was sliced open on a handful of occasions in the second half when Cohen and Taylor chased endless long balls over the top.

Cohen won the home side's penalty, beating Matt Clarke for pace, only to be felled inside the area by the right-back's lunging challenge.

Taylor, on loan from Bolton, scored the winner on 67 minutes, chasing a through ball from Cohen before beating Baker in emphatic style.

But Hereford could have salvaged a draw when, in stoppage time, Steve Guinan found space inside the home side's area only for goalkeeper Andy Woods to block the striker's goal-bound effort.

In truth, Hereford's goal also lived a charmed life in the last 10 minutes with both Cohen and Taylor streaking clear of the visiting rearguard, only to be denied on each occasion by the reflexes of Baker.

Previously, Guinan forced a smart save from Woods in the sixth minute with a snapshot from the edge of the area as the match limped into life.

Cohen and Guinan then missed the target with close-range headers before the Seadogs broke the deadlock with a soft goal in the 33rd minute.

Mohammed Sillah headed a loose ball back into the Hereford area and Tony Pounder was the quickest to react, knocking it home from six yards.

Hereford drew level in the second minute of added time, Parry meeting Guinan's inch-perfect right-wing cross to plant home a downward header.

But, for Hereford's defence, the warning bells started ringing soon after the interval when a break from Cohen set up a glorious chance for Scarborough's Scot Kerr who shot wide.