Altrincham 0 Hereford 1

Hereford United moved to the brink of their third successive Conference play-off test thanks to Stuart Fleetwood's second-half strike.

It was the Bulls' first win in four attempts against Altrincham and their 10th away success of another memorable season.

Hereford might well have won by more than Fleetwood's solitary strike in a game they dominated throughout on a difficult pitch which made control difficult.

After their run of four games without a win, Hereford made two changes with Fleetwood returning in attack and Andy Ferrell resuming in midfield after suspension.

It was the two returning players' contribution which proved crucial as it was from Ferrell's pass that Fleetwood sprinted clear to slip the ball past goalkeeper Stuart Coburn.

Former Cardiff City striker Fleetwood almost gave Hereford an excellent start when he got on the end of a cross from Simon Travis after just seven minutes.

His well-struck shot was tipped on to the bar by Coburn and the rebound was cleared to safety.

Mid-way through the half, Hereford created two more excellent openings which should have been converted.

In both cases the instigator was Andy Williams who had a lively game on the right of the Hereford midfield.

In the 21st minute, Danny Carey-Bertram was in the clear to meet a Williams cross just beyond the far post but sliced his effort wide of the target.

Then, six minutes later, an excellent run by Williams ended with a cross which Craig Stanley met from 10 yards out, only to hammer his shot wide of the target.

With Hereford still firmly in control in the lead up to the interval, Altrincham were lucky to survive another clear opening six minutes before the break.

Fleetwood raced down the right and crossed, only to see home full-back Steve Aspinall succeed with a desperate, last-ditch tackle to snatch the ball just as Carey-Bertram was about to shoot.

Carey-Bertram failed with another good opening after being flicked through by Fleetwood on 56 minutes before Hereford's pressure paid off seven minutes later.

Ferrell's pass from midfield was inch perfect and Fleetwood's pacy run and cool finish were of high quality.

Ferrell might have added a second after 71 minutes after more good approach play from Carey-Bertram and Williams but his shot from the edge of the area flashed a yard wide.

Salvage

As time ran out, Altrincham committed more players to attack in a bid to salvage a point. But with Tamika Mkandawire in excellent form, and Dean Beckwith hardly his inferior, Hereford had few problems in holding on.

There was even time for a late substitute appearance by Guy Ipoua who replaced Williams to appear for the first time since limping out of the draw at Grays in late January.

Hereford: Brown, Travis, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Jeannin, Williams (Ipoua, 83 min), Ferrell, Stanley, Purdie, Fleetwood, Carey-Bertram. Subs not used: Mawson, Pitman, Stansfield, Nicolau.

Attendance: 1,251.