Boro claim opening win at home to Bulls
Scarborough Athletic claimed their opening National League North win with a 1-0 success at home to Hereford on Saturday.
If this is what supporters can expect in National League North, then they will be in for a treat this season, as a thrilling second half performance earned Jono Greening's side all three points from a high-quality match at a sundrenched Flamingo Land Stadium.
The visitors made the brighterstart,andtheyalmost wentaheadinthesecondminute, when a through-ball from Ryan Lloyd left skipper Jared Hodgkiss one-on-one with Boro keeper Joe Cracknell, but the latter got down to save at his feet, then a shot from Tyrone Barnett was charged down by Simon Heslop, and Cracknell dived to save a low shot from Hodgkiss
Boro’s best early moves stemmed from long-throws into the box from Ash Jackson, and from one of these on 16 minutes, Jake Charles chested the ball down to MichaelCoulson,wholaidofffor Ryan Watson to fire in a shot that Hereford keeper Brad Wade dived to save.
A cross into the box from Dan Bramall was cleared towards Lewis Maloney who thundered in a 25-yard shot that was deflected out for a corner. Bramall showed great skill to twist and turn before sending over another cross
that was scrambled clear, while at the other end, a fierce strike from Harry Pinchard forced a superb diving save from Cracknell, then Kieran Weledji made a terrific tackle to halt a run from Lloyd, and Pritchard shot just over from 20 yards.
Kane Thompson-Sommers fired wide and Jackson twice got in strong tackles during a spell of Hereford pressure, as the interval was reached with the score still at 0-0.
Boro started to get on top,
Coulson was presented with a good chance when a ball forward from Maloney left him through on goal, but he dragged his shot wide.
The deadlock was broken on 66 minutes when Jackson launched a long-throw from the left into the goalmouth, and the ball skimmed off the headofdefenderLukeHaines, and sped into the bottom right corner of the net. Maloney then set up Coulson, who fired straight at keeper Wade.
Hereford tried to fight back, and an overhead kick
from Charles cleared the danger from a corner, then Maloney blocked a strike from Hodgkiss, goalkeeper Cracknell, who had an excellent game, safely gathered a Jack Evans cross into the goalmouth, and Thompson-Sommers sent a 25-yard free kick over the bar.
Borofinishedstrongly,and trademark trickery from Kieran Glynn, set up Jackson on the left, and his ball into the area was scrambled clear by Haines,thenmanofthematch Will Thornton, who, along
withBaileyGooda,wassuperb attheback,powerfullyheaded the ball forward towards Dom Tear in the goalmouth, but he just couldn't connect to divert the ball past the keeper.
Right at the death Barnett passed forward to Miles Storey, but Gooda made a great tackle to prevent him getting in a shot.
BORO: Cracknell, Weledji, Jackson, Maloney, Thornton, Gooda, Coulson (Glynn 78), Watson, Charles, Heslop, Bramall (Tear 85)
ATTENDANCE: 1,598.