Saturday, September 22, 2001

A MUCH-improved Hereford United battled out an action-packed 1-1 Nationwide Conference draw against Stevenage Borough at Edgar Street.

Substitute striker Jimmy Quiggin met a superb run and cross by Paul Parry to give the Bulls a 73rd minute lead.

Stevenage, however, hit back just two minutes later, when Sam Sodje netted a deserved leveller from close range.

And the visitors had Steve Walters sent off four minutes from time, the second time in five days, after two bookable offences.

Hereford director of football Graham Turner said: "We created about four good chances in the first ten minutes, and from one of those Parry should have found the net.

"We had a stroke of luck on a couple of occasions but we committed the cardinal sin of conceding a goal just after we scored."

Stirred by their dismal midweek display against Yeovil, Hereford, who included Birmingham City youngster Tony Capaldi and central defender Matt Gardiner, back at the club on a non-contract basis after short spells with Worcester City and Evesham United, seized the initiative from the kick-off.

Parry shaved the bar in the third minute after latching on to Rob Elmes' flick, and fit-again Scott Voice forced a fine fingertip save from goalkeeper Paul Wilkerson with a fierce 25-yard drive. The former Bilston striker then saw a bullet header flash narrowly wide.

Hereford continued to dominate, but Stevenage almost snatched the lead when Dudley Campbell raced clear after a defensive lapse between Tony James and Gardiner, but was foiled by the brilliant Matt Baker.

Quiggin replaced the injured Elmes at half time, but Stevenage took control.

Baker denied Sam McMahon with a vital save, and the former Hull City player made two outstanding stops in the 51st minute. First, Baker turned away a wicked Sodje shot and, from the corner, he somehow tipped a point-blank Robin Trott header over the bar.

Hereford had a lucky escape when substitute Neil Illman hammered an effort against the underside of the bar, and Sodje scuffed the rebound wide.

Parry responded with a scorching 30-yard drive for Hereford, and despite sustained visitors' pressure, the Bulls took the lead when Parry skipped past ex-United defender Paul Sturgess and crossed for Quiggin, whose glancing header beat Wilkerson.

The home fans' joy was short-lived and in the 75th minute, Sodje tapped in a cross from the impressive Illman.