AN EXCELLENT strike five minutes from the end by loanee Sam Winnall gave the Bulls their long-awaited first League win of the season.

Hereford boss Jamie Pitman opted to reinstate the line-up which successfully battled for a point at Bristol Rovers last Saturday.

With Stuart Fleetwood now departed for Luton, the substitutes’ bench included all three recent loan arrivals, Tom Barkhuizen, Sam Winnal and Will Evans.

Russell Hoult resumed as replacement goalkeeper with Adam Bartlett back on the injured list.

Dagenham had the better of the early possession but the Hereford defence looked composed, keeping the visiting attack at long range.

Only Luke Howell’s shot from 20 yards, which went well wide, gave Dave Cornell in the Hereford goal anything to think about.

After five minutes, however, Hereford missed a good chance to open the scoring.

Delroy Facey sent Simon Clist away but the midfielder tried to take the chance with his left-foot rather than a more natural right and keeper Chris Lewington was able to beat the ball away.

Yoann Arquin showed good space to speed away from the Daggers defence and pulled the ball back well for Lunt.

The experienced midfielder, however, was not able to keep his shot down and the drive, from the edge of the area, flew high over.

Dagenham produced a good move down the right on 11 minutes and it took some good defending from Danny Williams to clear the ball away for the game’s first corner.

And, five minutes later, Gavin Tomlin cut in from the left and cracked a shot just wide of Cornell’s left-hand upright.

Tomlin continued to be a lively raider and a slip by Lunt opened up an other shooting chance which was deflected out for the visitors’ fourth corner.

At the other end, Arquin beat the offside trap but Facey’s through-ball was over hit and comfortably gathered by Lewington.

The keeper was not so secure on 29 minutes when he failed to gather a routine cross from Joe Heath.

He reacted quickly, though, to block Arquin’s follow-up shot.

On 31 minutes, a neat interchange between Tomlin and Luke Howell was ended by a fine challenge from Ryan Green.

There was some confusion, however, when the linesman appeared to be indicating that it should be a penalty before referee Bobby Madley signalled a throw-in.

Hereford were being hampered in attack by a lack of width which reduced the service to the front pairing.

Facey did attempt a 25-yard effort from a Williams pass on 41 minutes, but the ball went high over.

And a minute later Hereford won their first corner after a burst of pace from Arquin.

In first-half stoppage time, United almost grabbed the lead. Nicky Featherstone’s pass released Clist whose shot deflected off a defender and dropped on top of the bar before going over.

Hereford forced two early corners in the second period but were unable to profit.

But a poor pass by Harry Pell set up a shooting chance for Oliver Lee who drilled his effort wide of the mark.

With the Bulls back on the attack, Facey headed over from a cross by Lunt after neat work by Arquin on the right.

Barkhuizen replaced Lunt on the hour and immediately showed a willingness to take on his full-back with a run and cross which ended in the side-netting.

And the youngster linked well with Arquin moments afterwards with two defenders closing down Barkhuizen as he shaped to shoot.

On 82 minutes, former Bulls triallist Sam Williams came close to an opener when he sent a shot skidding narrowly wide.

Almost immediately, Arquin arrived at the far post to meet a Featherstone cross but headed wide of the target.

Five minutes from the end, Hereford fashioned a goal out of nothing.

Winnal picked up the ball on the halfway line and advanced before drilling a low shot into the corner of the net from 20 yards.

Hereford: 4-4-2: Cornell; Williams (Evans 46), Green, Townsend, Heath; Lunt (Barkhuizen 61), Pell, Featherstone, Clist; Arquin, Facey (Winnall 67). Subs not used: Hoult, McQuilkin.

Dagenham & Redbridge: 4-4-2: Lewington; Ogogo, Doe, Walsh, McCrory; Scannell, Howell (Gain 51), Lee, Green (Reed 70); Williams, Tomlin. Subs not used: Shea, Woodall, Ilesanmi.

Referee: Bobby Madley (West Yorkshire).

Attendance: 1885 (including 124 from Dagenham).

Goals: Winnall, 85 min, 1-0.

Yellow Cards: Hereford – Arquin, failing to retreat, 75 min;