Tuesday, August 24, 1999.

HEREFORD United's unbeaten start to the Nationwide Conference season came to an end with a 3-2 defeat at Morecambe last night in a superb game.

Despite the defeat manager Graham Turner can take heart from most of what he saw.

His side more than played their part in a classic against a Morecambe team managed by former Bulls favourite Jim Harvey.

But Turner will not be too happy with some of the defending he saw from his own charges. Twice in the first half the diminutive Phil Eastwood, a close season buy from Burnley, was allowed free headers on goal from close range and twice Andy Quy was beaten.

There was little the back four could do about Eastwood's other goal, Morecambe's second of the night, as he poked home the rebound after a shot from Justin Jackson had rebounded back off the post.

The Bulls' boss will be delighted however, at the way his side fought back twice.

On 27 minutes Gavin Williams levelled Eastwood's opener with a calmly taken penalty. Rob Elmes, who proved a handful all evening, was bundled over in the box by Andy Farrell and Williams took advantage from the spot.

Nine minutes later Elmes was himself on the scoresheet adding to the two goals he scored in the victory over Kettering at the weekend with another well-taken goal. The Morecambe defence only half cleared Mark Taylor's testing free kick and Elmes reacted sharply to fire home the loose ball from eight yards out.

That goal rounded off a tremendous first half and though the second half failed to match it there were still incidents galore.

Unfortunately referee Stephen Coffey then decided he wanted to become the centre of attention and in a game which saw barely a hefty challenge, never mind any malice, he went on to book six players and sent two off.

Matt Clarke was the unfortunate Bulls' player to walk after picking up a second yellow card after a minor disagreement with Kenny Takano, who also saw red.

Eventually though it was the football that shone through and John Snape was desperately unlucky not to earn his side at least a share of the points.

On 54 minutes he saw a header beat Andy Banks but hit the post before being hacked away to safety. Then in the fifth minute of injury time Snape saw a gap open up in front of him on the edge of the area and his right foot shot flew inches past the post with the Morecambe keeper nowhere.

Hereford: Quy 7, Clarke 7, Sturgess 7, Lane 7, Wright 7, Wall 7, Williams 7, Taylor 7, Elmes 8, Hanson 6 (May 60, 6), Snape 8. Subs not used: Jones, Cotterill, Shirley, Beale.

Star man: Rob Elmes.

Attendance: 1,768.