Saturday, October 2, 1999

HEREFORD United's fortunes fluctuated furiously in their Nationwide Conference match with Scarborough at Edgar Street until an 88th minute goal by John Snape salvaged them a point from a 4-4 draw.

Hereford held the edge after taking leads of 2-0 and 3-2. But the game suddenly changed in Scarborough's direction in the 86th minute when Steve Brodie put them 4-3 ahead.

Two minutes later, however, the Bulls drew level through the unlikely source of Snape who beat 'keeper Andy Wood with a 15-yard drive - only his second goal for the club.

Part-timer Snape admitted: ''I don't score that many and I'm over the moon with that one with my left foot, I usually just stand on it.''

The Bulls looked on course to repeat their previous 4-0 midweek victory over Rushden and Diamonds as they surged into an early two goal advantage.

In the 10th minute Paul Sturgess and Paul Parry worked the ball to Mark Taylor who unleashed a weakish shot. Paul Fewings latched onto it and rifled his shot past Wood.

Two minutes later Rob Elmes nodded down Taylor's corner for Fewings to flick a header into the net. It was the young striker's seventh goal in seven games.

In the 17th minute, however, six foot five inch striker Andy Morris reduced the arrears, side-footing a shot into the net after Brodie's drive had been partly blocked.

Scarborough then came more into the game and in the 35th minute United 'keeper Mark Jones misjudged Marvin Harriot's wind-assisted 35-yard drive which dipped over him as he tried to vainly tip it over the bar.

Three minutes before the break Hereford struck back through Elmes who headed home Sturgess' free kick for his seventh goal of the season.

The opening period of the second half was comparatively eventful until the 59th minute, when Scarborough drew level again.

Former United midfielder Gareth Stoker delivered a tamish shot from the edge of the box. But Jones was slow going down for it and it went underneath him to put the Seasiders level again.

The game then climaxed with Morris heading Brodie through to shoot Scarborough ahead for the first time, only for Snape to have the last word.

United's Director of Football Graham Turner said: ''We did not play the ball about like we did against Rushden but Scarborough gave us far less room in which to work.

''We knew tall players would be dangerous at set pieces and unfortunately for us the referee awarded a lot of free kicks. But again we gave the fans plenty of goals.''

Former Hereford manager Colin Addison, now in charge of Scarborough, said: ''What a game.

"We defended atrociously in the first half. But give credit to the team, they fought back with great determination to score four times.''

United's point keeps them in sixth place in the table, five places above Scarborough but seven behind leaders Kingstonian, while they remain the leading scorers in the Conference with 27 goals from 14 matches.

Hereford: Jones 5, Clarke 6, Wright 6, James 6, Sturgess 8, Rodgerson 6, Taylor 7, Snape 7, Parry 6 (Williams 76), Elmes 7, Fewings 7. Subs not used: Lane, Cotterill, Wall and Beale.

Star man: Paul Sturgess.

Attendance: 1,886.