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SCARBOROUGH (home) 13/08/05 Hereford made the best possible start to the new campaign with a convincing victory over Scarborough. For long periods it looked as though it would be Ôone of those daysÕ where the ball just would not go in, but the Bulls rallied and scored four times in a second half that they dominated. United fielded six debutants and a new formation, with Ryan Green and Frenchman Alex Jeannin operating as wing-backs. The most impressive of the new players, striker Guy Ipoua, signed from Doncaster, had the gameÕs first goalscoring opportunity, latching onto an Adam Stansfield pass before smashing a shot against the post. In the corresponding fixture last season, Hereford were indebted to their goalkeeper Jonathan Gould for a string of great saves, but on this occasion the home custodian Craig MawsonÕs main task was to catch crosses and take goal kicks after yet another hopeful long ball forward from Scarborough had drifted out of play. Tony Hackworth blasted way over the bar from thirty yards, with the unmarked Ian Clark screaming for a pass away to HackworthÕs left. MawsonÕs opposite number, Leigh Walker, was likewise under-worked. As the rain lashed down, the ball appeared to be largely superfluous for long periods of the first half with several niggling battles developing between the players: Jeannin against Quayle; Green against Clark; Ipoua against Weaver; and Neil Bishop against anybody that came near him. Bishop was eventually booked after a series of rash challenges: who none of his colleagues joined him in the refereeÕs notebook remains a mystery. The second half was a different story, with United creating chances for fun, although none were initially converted. In one goalmouth scramble, Stansfield and Ipoua had shots blocked, and Andy Ferrell fired over a gaping goal. A moment of comedy saw a Scarborough clearance strike the referee before rebounding into the path of Stansfield, but Walker made a great save to turn the ball round the post. At the other end, the Seadogs almost took an undeserved lead when Ashley Lyth sneaked in at the back post, but Mawson made a sharp stop to block the header. Hereford thought they had taken the lead soon after, when Stansfield and Walker went up for a cross. Walker initially caught the ball but then dropped it, and Stansfield tapped it into an empty net, but the refereeÕs whistle had sounded long before the ball went in. Walker had picked up a knee injury and was down receiving treatment for a long time, and some of his kicks immediately after were weak. One of ScarboroughÕs coaches was still convinced that the injury was caused by Stansfield elbowing the goalkeeper however! The referee further angered the home supporters after turning down their penalty appeals. IpouaÕs header hit the crossbar, and in an attempt to clear the ball Steve Baker kicked Alex Jeannin in the head: despite a nasty head injury leaving the former Exeter man in a heap in the penalty area, Scarborough were allowed to bring the ball clear, only being stopped when Hackworth was penalised for a foul. It was to be until the sixty-fourth minute until the Bulls took the lead with a simple goal. JeanninÕs excellent corner was met by Dean Beckwith Ð who scored the last time he played at Edgar Street, for Dagenham and Redbridge Ð and the debutant powered a header into the roof of the net. Four minutes later, United had doubled their lead with another header, with Ipoua nodding home Jon BradyÕs inch-perfect cross. ScarboroughÕs attack was no better than their defence, with the home rearguard first to most things. In a rare lapse in concentration, Mark Quayle got through but Mawson had anticipated the danger and came off his line to make a block. It was from a Scarborough corner that Hereford broke clear and added a third goal; the corner being awarded after Tony James made an excellent goal-saving tackle on substitute Jermaine Palmer. Ryan Green won the ball from player-coach Neil Redfearn and sprinted clear before releasing Ipoua. His shot was well blocked by Walker, but he couldnÕt hold it and Green was on hand to knock in the rebound. It was only his third goal for United. Minutes later, Ipoua was given a standing ovation when he was substituted. His replacement, Craig Stanley, almost at once got on the end of a fine pass from Ferrell, but he was again denied by Walker. No defender had picked up the run of another substitute, Danny Carey-Bertram, and he tapped home the loose from a matter of inches. Walker was far from happy with the defending, and administered a rollicking to his defence. Having been tormented by the Hereford attack for long periods, it was probably the least they deserved. Team and ratings: Mawson (7), Green (8), Mkandawire (7), James (7), Beckwith (7), Jeannin (7), Brady (7) (sub Purdie (4)), Coldicott (6.5), Ferrell (7), Stansfield (8) (sub Carey-Bertram (5)), Ipoua (9) (sub Stanley (4)). Subs not used: Brown, Blewitt. Star man: Guy Ipoua.
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