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SCUNTHORPE (home) 21/12/05 For the second season in a row, Hereford United defeated Scunthorpe on their way to the LDV Vans semi-finals. Last year penalties were needed to separate the two sides, but such was Hereford's dominance of Tuesday's tie it looked like a pre-season match against Westfields. This wasn't a scratch Scunthorpe side made up of youngsters and trialists either; eight of the players who started against Hereford featured in the Iron's 3-1 victory over Nottingham Forest in their last outing, and former Aston Villa striker Tommy Johnson was included after making an appearance as a substitute against Forest. Graham Turner made two changes from the Hereford side that had hammered Bognor Regis 7-1 in their previous match, with Jamie Pitman and Tony James being recalled. Pitman went on to dominate the midfield against his League One counterparts, particularly in a first half where Hereford made their opponents look like a side two divisions below them, rather than being from two leagues higher. Hereford completely dominated the first half and it quickly became a question of when the first goal would come. The right-wing runs of Andy Williams and Simon Travis caused no end of problems for full-back Lee Ridley, and the Bulls forced a succession of corners as they put their opponents under severe pressure. Williams, Adam Stansfield and former Scunthorpe player Guy Ipoua all missed chances before the home side finally took the lead through Stansfield. Keeper Tommy Evans was unable to hold onto Williams' drive from outside the box, and former Yeovil striker Stansfield was left completely unmarked to knock in the rebound from close range. Craig Mawson made a couple of regulation saves in the first ten minutes but was mostly a casual spectator for the rest of the half. Ipoua's turn and shot came back off the post, and Alex Jeannin hit the same section of woodwork straight from yet another Hereford corner. Williams sent a shot wide, then once again got clear of his marker to send in a great cross that Rob Purdie somehow sent crashing against the crossbar from six yards. Evans was forced to gather after a defender miscued a clearance, before Hereford finally made their advantage count with a second goal minutes from the end of the first half. Purdie had worked his way into the area before being denied by a fine tackle by Cliff Byrne. The ball went for a corner, which Purdie took himself, and from his flag-kick Tamika Mkandawire rose highest to send a header into the top corner of the net. It was the very least Hereford deserved, having carved out and wasted a succession of chances by playing some excellent passing football. The pace of the forwards and wide men made life difficult for Scunthorpe, and Crosby injured himself when making a crude tackle on Stansfield: the only way the visiting captain could stop the lively striker. Both sides lost their captains through injury, with Tony James, who had had a fine half, departing to be replaced by Dean Beckwith. The change did not disrupt Hereford unduly, as Beckwith was more than able to contain Scunthorpe's tall striker Steve Torpey when he appeared from the bench. Scunny boss Brian Laws also threw on top scorer Billy Sharp as his side looked for a way back into the tie. Laws was clearly unhappy with his side and had given them a dressing-down at half time, as Scunthorpe came out with more attacking impetus in the second half. Nevertheless, a great defensive rearguard action from Hereford prevented the visitors from pulling a goal back. Andy Keogh received a yellow card from the referee - the infamous Mr Woolmer - for diving in the box, and Jim Goodwin soon joined him in Woolmer's notebook for a poor challenge on Stansfield. Ian Barraclough's shot from distance was straight at Mawson, and the game gradually became scrappier as Scunthorpe battled to try to get back into the tie. Hereford were still a threat, and Stansfield should have done a lot better than scrape his shot wide after great work down the left flank by Ipoua and Purdie. Mawson was finally called upon to make a couple of decent saves, from Sharp and Torpey, but at the other end Purdie wasted another good chance after shooting wide. Hereford knew it was too be their day when Neil MacKenzie wasted a great chance, ballooning a shot over from six yards. Having made all three substitutes, Laws then saw Goodwin pick up a knock that required treatment. A United fan cheekily shouted to the Scunthorpe boss, "Do you want to borrow one of ours?" Having seen his side so comprehensively beaten, Laws could only turn round and nod his head sadly. The semi-final line-up is completed by Macclesfield Town, Carlisle United and local rivals Kidderminster Harriers, who pulled off a shock of their own in beating Bradford City. Even the most pessimistic of Hereford fans must by aware that the Millennium Stadium is within sight. Line up and ratings: Mawson (7), Travis (7), James (7) (sub Beckwith (8)), Mkandawire (8), Jeannin (7), Williams (8), Pitman (7), Ferrell (6), Purdie (7), Ipoua (7) (sub Brady (5)), Stansfield (7) (sub Evans, 90 mins). Subs not used: Lewis, Stanley. Star man: Andy Williams.
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