HEREFORD returned to league action this afternoon with an emphatic 4-1 win over Basingstoke Town.

The Bulls had to come from behind to claim the victory, but once they had established a lead by half time, there was only going to be one winner.

Eliot Richards was handed his Hereford debut by manager Pete Beadle, while Billy Murphy also started.

But it was Basingstoke who took the lead in the fourth minute.

The away side broke quickly and Don Bayliss was on hand to score.

But Hereford were level after 15 minutes.

Richards' corner found Jack Deaman, who nodded home.

Then Hereford went ahead on the half-hour mark.

Keyon Reffell finished off a nice move involving Mills and Jimmy Oates.

Mills then gave Hereford some breathing space four minutes before the interval before sealing the win in the 73rd minure.

The Bulls have closed the gap at the top of the Evo-Stik South Premier to nine points after King's Lynn lost.

Hereford also have five games in hand, while fellow promotion hopefuos Slough also lost.

Hereford: Horsell, Oates, O'Shea, Murphy, Green, Deaman, Page (Haysham 80), Dinsley, Mills (Symons 74), Reffell, Richards (Smith 74).

Subs: Preston, Harris.

Attendance: 2,794.