Full-time: Port Vale 1 Hereford United 0

After looking well worth a draw, the Bulls defence switched off four minutes from the end to allow Marc Richards to head the goal which keeps United in danger at the foot of the table.

Hereford boss Richard O’Kelly opted to give his side a shake-up following the home defeat by Southend.

O’Kelly made five changes, recalling Ryan Green, Stefan Stam, Joe Colbeck and Nathan Elder and handing a full debut to Sam Clucas.

Byron Anthony, despite signing on loan until the end of the season, was left on the substitutes’ bench where there was a first appearance for several weeks for Richard Peniket.

Vale included former Bull John McCombe at centre-back.

Hereford made a lively opening with some neat passing setting Clucas free on the left.

The move was spoiled, though, with a dreadful cross.

United showed up well in the early stages and Elder’s flick gave Colbeck a half-chance.

The singer got the ball over keeper Stuart Tomlinson but also over the bar.

Port Vale took some time to get underway but had an opening in the 11th minute when Adam Yates got free on the right to deliver a cross which McCombe fired into the side netting.

With Vale now making more o f the running, Dave Cornell saved well from Chris Shuker with Luois Dodds’ follow-up effort headed off the line b y Green.

Hereford had their moments and a fine pass by Kenny Lunt sent Ben Purkiss, who had just been booked for a wild challenge, away on the right.

The full-back volleyed in his cross but, sadly for United, just over the head of Elder.

Nicky Featherstone then released Barkhuizen but the teenager’s cross was cut out before it could reach Colbeck.

And a cross by Green from the left just eluded the stretching Elder.

At the other end, a skimming free-kick by Marc Richards from 25 yards flashed just outside a post.

The first corner of the game arrived on 42 minutes and it went to Vale.

Shuker’s cross was cleared to Doug Loft who blazed high over.

Hereford responded immediately for forcing a corner at the other end and, from a neat move, Lunt, seeking his first goal of the season, curled a shot wide.

Hereford quickly won a corner after a lively start to the second half.

Barkhuizen’s cross flashed through the goalmouth before the danger was eventually cleared.

Vale hit back with a flag-kick at the other end and debutant Joe Davis was just wide with a bullet header.

And Richards was not far way with a neat shot on the turn as Vale started to put some moves together.

Hereford’s passing play and build-up continued to show promise and a swift break from Colbeck forced a save from Tomlinson.

And then Elder flicked a header from a Lunt free-kick just wide of the target.

After a brief flurry from Vale, Hereford were back on the attack and a Colbeck shot was deflected behind for another corner, which came and went without danger.

A corner at the other end brought a good chance for Vale on 72 minutes when substitute Tom Pope knocked the ball down to Richards who volleyed weakly into the sidenetting.

Hereford, however, were denied by some fine defending in the 79th minute when Tomlinson pushed out a Clucas volley from Colbeck’s cross with Barkhuizen’s follow-up blocked out for a corner.

There was plenty of life in the Hereford attack and a Colbeck drive from Lunt’s short free-kick went inches wide.

Four minutes from time, the Hereford defence went to slepp and Richards nipped past the static rearguard to head in a Pope cross.

Hereford: 4-5-1: Cornell; Purkiss, Stam (Anthony 71), Townsend, Green; Barkhuizen (Peniket 85), Clucas, Lunt, Featherstone (Evans 71); Elder. Subs not used: Hanford, Facey.

Port Vale: 4-3-3: Tomlinson; Yates, McCombe, Davis, Loft; Shuker, Morsy, Marshall; Dodds (Pope 71), Richards, Rigg (Williamson 82). Subs not used: Martin, James, Roe.

Referee: Andy d’Urso (Essex).

Attendance: 3,959 (including 156 from Hereford).

Goals: Richards, 86 min, 1-0.

Yellow cards: Hereford – Purkiss, foul, 23 min; Port Vale – McCombe, foul, 80 min.