Hereford 1 Southport 1

Hereford'S disappointing display in their final home Nationwide Conference match of the season leaves their fate out of their own hands.

Although they are already in the play-offs, the Bulls, with just one match to play, could now be overhauled for second place by either or both of Halifax Town and Grays Athletic.

Both of the Bulls' rivals have two home games to play while United travel to York City, who put a serious spoke in the wheel of Stevenage's play-off prospects on Saturday.

Although they have lost just once in 23 Conference matches, the Bulls are currently struggling to rediscover their verve.

Hard, bouncy pitches and a willingness by visitors to pack their defences in recent matches have not helped.

But Graham Turner and coach John Trewick need to re-instil the missing ingredient if Hereford are not to suffer a third consecutive play-off disappointment.

Southport lined up with a five-man defence and, initially at least, seemed happy simply to boot the ball as far as possible when it came into their half.

The visitors should, however, have been ahead at the interval when they wasted a golden opening in the 40th minute.

Dean Beckwith has been one of United's finds of the season but he completely lost track of Steve Daly to allow the Sandgrounders' top scorer a clear sight of goal.

Fortunately for United, the always excellent Wayne Brown came to Beckwith's rescue, touching Daly's shot on to a post and grabbing the rebound.

Hereford, though, might also say that fate -- or rather, the referee -- was against them in the 31st minute.

Andy Ferrell was crash-tackled by Gary Brabin on the edge of the Hereford penalty area but referee Robert Shoebridge appeared to let play go on, only to blow for the infringement just as Danny Carey-Bertram rifled the ball into the net.

Chances were very much a rarity at both ends in the first-half, however, and that pattern continued after the break.

Turner introduced substitute Adam Stansfield at half-time in place of Carey-Bertram but the United strike force still struggled against the powerful Southport central defensive combination of Earl Davis, Mark Roberts and veteran Gary Brabin.

But in the 76th minute, Hereford finally discovered a route down the outside and opened the scoring. Simon Travis got away down the right and his cross was neatly headed home at the near post by Adam Stansfield.

With the points seemingly safe, Hereford were surprisingly caught out in the last minute.

The Bulls lost the ball in their own half and Southport broke away at pace with Liam Blakeman finding an excellent finish. He curled the ball past Brown from the edge of the box to score a goal which may prove vital in the visitors' relegation battle.

Hereford: Brown, Travis, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Jeannin, Williams (Ipoua 80), Stanley, Ferrell, Purdie, Fleetwood (Pitman 64), Carey-Bertram (Stansfield, 46 min). Subs (not used): Mawson, Nicolau.

Attendance: 2,547.