Saturday, April 21, 2001

A RARE headed goal from veteran midfielder Ian Rodgerson earned Hereford United a point in a drab end-of-season 1-1 Nationwide Conference draw against Scarborough at Edgar Street.

The midfielder made a fine run to the near post after 33 minutes to meet a cross from John Shirley and direct his header past Seadogs goalkeeper Andy Woods.

And on a day when Hereford badly missed the thrust of leading scorer Robin Elmes, who cried off with sickness, it was Rodgerson, whose record of 14 goals in 291 Hereford appearances hardly qualifies him as a prolific marksman, who came closest to grabbing a second half winner.

In the 77th minute, substitute Kerry Giddings made a fine run on the left and the ball broke to Rodgerson on the edge of the penalty area.

The former Cardiff, Birmingham and Sunderland man's well-judged effort seemed to be heading for the net but instead thudded against an upright and was cleared to safety.

A winner then would have been tough justice on Scarborough who had earned their point after going ahead on 24 minutes.

Young striker Jamie Burt found his way around full back Shirley on the right and powered in a shot which Scott Cooksey turned into the side-netting for a corner. David Pounder's flag-kick fell conveniently for Paul Ellender to lash a right-foot drive past Cooksey and into the net.

Ellender, who will miss the last three games of the season due to suspension, also tested Cooksey with a late header from a Jamie Blunt free-kick, but then showed his true colours with a late challenge on Giddings which brought his 16th booking of the season.

On a day when the hard, bumpy pitch effectively nullified any skill on show, there were few other goalscoring opportunities of note.

Gavin Williams, who has failed to score in his last 18 Conference games, headed an early chance straight at Woods.

Then Paul Parry, who has failed to score all season, allowed Woods to block when a good through ball from Williams sent him clear.

In the closing stages, John Snape drove wide from 20 yards after a perceptive knock-down from the returning Steve Piearce but these were relatively isolated incidents on a day when neither 'keeper was overworked.