Saturday, April 28, 2001

HEREFORD United's home Nationwide Conference season ended as it began, with two points dropped against Lancashire rivals after a 2-2 draw with Morecambe.

Back in August, Southport went away from Edgar Street with a point and since then 10 other sides have shared the spoils with the Bulls at their own headquarters.

But on Saturday, as on a number of those occasions, Hereford should have grabbed all the points after being up against 10 men for 84 minutes. The Bulls had the added bonus of taking the lead with a strike from veteran midfielder Ian Rodgerson, his second goal in successive games.

Wolverhampton referee Steve Castle made his first impact on the game when he showed the red card to Morecambe's full-back Andy Fensome for dissent after just six minutes.

After this, Hereford had the better of the next period of play and deservedly went in front after 22 minutes. Paul Parry's cross deflected into the path of Rodgerson who drove home a right-foot shot from the edge of the area.

But Hereford failed to take further advantage and conceded an equaliser 11 minutes later. Skipper John Snape, standing in as captain for the injured Ian Wright, lost the ball to Stewart Drummond whose 20-yarder was pushed away for a corner by Scott Cooksey, and when Robbie Talbot delivered the flag-kick, Cooksey failed to gather the ball and Drummond headed home at the back post.

Eight minutes into the second half Phil Robinson, who had assumed Wright's role at the heart of the defence, failed to prevent Colin Hunter from driving in a shot which Cooksey could not hold, and Talbot reacted quickly to hammer home the rebound.

With Morecambe doing their best to hold on for what would have been only their second win in 13 Conference games, it took a goal of exceptional quality to earn United a point.

Former England striker Steve Bull, a 59th minute substitute for Jimmy Quiggin, met a dropping ball on the edge of the area with a fierce volley which hit the back of the net almost before Morecambe goalkeeper Mark Smith could make a move.

Four minutes into injury time it seemed as if United had snatched an unlikely winner. Smith made a hash of gathering a high through ball and fell on top of substitute Steve Piearce, with the ball running loose to Rodgerson who gleefully smashed it home.

But, as the Hereford players celebrated, referee Castle disallowed the 'goal' for a foul by Piearce on the goalkeeper.