Hull City 1 Scarborough 1

A few weeks ago the result of this game would have decided which of the two teams would be relegated from the Football League.

But such is the progress made by both clubs in the past two months that the game was able to provide City's largest crowd for three seasons - 13,949 - producing a rumbustuous Yorkshire derby where both sides felt that they could have won and both can feel confident for the future.

Whilst the Tigers mauled the Scarborough defence early in the game and just after the break, the visitors produced moments of flowing football and in truth produced the better chances.

Scarborough had been forced to make four changes after a virus had swept through the club and manager Colin Addison was full of praise for his side's fighting display.

"The boys who came in did a magnificent job, but this truly was a tremendous team performance yet again. There was a great atmosphere, both sides had their moments and I look forward to returning next year in the Football League to have some more of this."

The kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes to cater for the large crowd and they saw City's fiercesome strike pairing of Colin Alcide and Duane Darby spearhead a series of attacks, which promised much but produced little.

Indeed, the only serious action for Tony Parks in the Scarborough goal was to save a Darby effort with one hand and then juggle the ball basket-ball style above the head of the towering Alcide.

Graham Carr made his full league debut at right back for Scarborough, showing great defensive qualities and a willingness to move forward which made the supporters wonder why his light has been hidden under the bushel for so long.

The best chance of the first half fell to Chris Tate when Paddy Atkinson, operating in midfield, produced a devastating run and cross to provide the sort of opportunity that Tate has been thriving on of late. On this occasion his touch was sadly lacking and Andy Oakes in the home goal gratefully accepted a soft header.

Gary Brabin and David D'Auria generally had the better of things in midfield for City and it was Brabin who opened the scoring five minutes into the second half.

Steve Swales' right-foot cross found the stocky midfielder unmarked amongst the giants in the penalty area and Brabin's diving header beat Parks to nestle just inside the post.

For the next ten minutes City threatened to add to their scoreline, with substitute David Brown completely miskicking in front of goal and Carr clearing a Jon Whitney effort off the line.

During this period, the experience of Jamie Hoyland shone through and after weathering the storm, Scarborough attacked again with some confidence and Tate saw a shot on the turn saved by Oakes and from the resulting corner, Andy Saville, who had replaced a tiring Darren Roberts, volleyed wastefully over the bar.

However, there was a feeling that a goal was imminent and when Nathan Jones curled a corner to the far post, Hoyland rose to send a looping header just over Oake's despairing fingers and just under the bar. "When the corner came over, I knew my name was on it and I was going to score" said Hoyland, after scoring his third goal of the season.

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