HALIFAX'S decision to seek supernatural assistance after a dreadful run of results evokes memories of a similarly unsuccessful venture at Edgar Street a generation ago.

Yorkshire astrologer and psychic Peter Leckie volunteered his services at the Shay last week and went along on Friday to see if he could assist.

"All I am doing is realigning the geomantic channels to allow the positive energy to flow freely through the Shay once more," said Leckie.

Whatever that meant, it seemed to be succeeding in the first half on Saturday when Halifax took the lead through a fortunate penalty, but United's own brand of magic served them well in the second period.

When the Bulls were hurtling towards relegation from the old Division 3 in 1977-8, the then TV psychic Ron Markham, better known as Romark, came along to Edgar Street to talk to the players ahead of a vital battle with Chesterfield.

"Hereford will win 2-1 and Peter Spiring will score the winning goal," he opined and, to general amazement all round, that was exactly what happened.

Unfortunately his next prediction, that United would win at Cambridge the following Saturday, was followed by a 4-0 defeat and Romark's days as a football pundit swiftly ended.