RECORDS continued to fall like confetti at Headingley as Essex gave Yorkshire's footsore bowlers a flogging on their way to a mammoth 622-8 declared off 184.3 overs.

That left Yorkshire needing to make 473 to avoid the follow-on and they closed yesterday on 53-2, still 420 off their target.

Essex's score was the third highest total ever recorded against Yorkshire, the only ones to beat it being Somerset's 630 on the same ground in 1901 and Leicestershire's 681-7 declared in the final Championship match to be played at Bradford Park Avenue in 1996.

It left far behind the previous highest score by Essex off Yorkshire's attack of 524-7 at Headingley in 1984 when Graham Gooch hit 131.

Andy Flower was Essex's biggest contributor with a patient 188 which lasted for eight-and-three-quarter hours and there was also a good knock of 92 from James Foster but it was Darren Gough, ever the showman, who really entertained the crowd with a barnstorming 93 at the expense of his former team-mates.

Gough came in as nightwatchman on Wednesday but far outstayed his welcome in a 140 stand for the sixth wicket with Flower and when he mis-hit Anthony McGrath to Craig White at short cover he had faced 104 balls, lashing 11 fours and three huge sixes.

Gough's only previous century in first class cricket was also at Headingley when he rapped out 121 for Yorkshire against Warwickshire in 1996 and it looked as if he was going to get another ton until he failed to clear the cover field.

And later he revealed: "Maggs (Anthony McGrath) was sticking his tongue out at me as he came in to bowl and he later apologised if it had put me off but the truth is that I just played a bad shot and I told him not to worry.

"I really enjoyed my innings and I have played well here before but I still regard every run that I make as a bonus.

"I don't usually come in as nightwatchman but I got my pads on while others were talking about it and just walked to the middle. I was glad to survive last night and I thought that if I didn't get out to Deon Kruis early on then I could probably make a few runs.

"I love the Yorkshire lads to bits but it is still wonderful to do well against them and the fans seemed to enjoy it. Deep down they know I am still a Yorkshireman through and through and they now understand the reasons why I moved down South."

Gough was put down once by Matthew Wood at second slip and Yorkshire continued to be below par in the field as both Foster and former Yorkshire off-spinner James Middlebrook both survived chances.

Flower's marathon effort came to a close when he carved Tim Bresnan into the hands of Chris Silverwood at third man after receiving 426 balls and stroking 27 fours and striking a six.

He had put on 99 with Foster who then added 94 in 25 overs with Middlebrook before attempting a reverse sweep at Richard Dawson and being acrobatically caught at the second attempt by McGrath at short third man.

Foster's 92 came off 176 balls with ten fours and a six while Middlebrook was left unbeaten on 44 from 71 deliveries with two fours and a six.

After almost two days in the field it came as little surprise that Yorkshire should lose cheap wickets, Phil Jaques being caught behind attempting to play Andre Adams to long leg and Matthew Wood then sending a return catch to the same bowler.

The only consolation was that McGrath, who has hit a century in the last two matches, looked quite comfortable in making an unbeaten 25.

Updated: 10:32 Friday, May 27, 2005