HEREFORD FC manager Pete Beadle hailed his resilient team after they claimed a vital three points against fellow Midland Football League Premier Division high-fliers Long Eaton United.

A solitary strike from John Mills – his 20th league goal of the season – secured the three points that takes Hereford back to the top of the division.

The attendance of 3,021 was only topped by Tranmere Rovers across the non-league pyramid.

"Obviously we want three points and want to put on a decent show and play some good football and I thought for 20 minutes we did and then it went the other way a little bit and we weren't as free-flowing as we would have liked, but we got the job done," said Beadle.

"In the first half, I thought we were extremely sloppy at times.

"Second half, we tightened up a bit but again it wasn't quite the perfect performance, but we have shown a quality in a game where may be we would have lost nine game ago.

"They have got some good players, certainly going forward, and were very organised at the back.

"We found it tough to break them down at times, then Harvey was called on in the second half to make a very good save."

The Bulls have now had four clean sheets in a row, something captain Joel Edwards is delighted about.

"The three points, in any league, is massive for me, whether we play well or not," he said.

"We got that and a clean sheet as well, which keeps us back five happy, which is good.

"They came at us a bit in the second half and we had to grind it a bit and battle, but it just shows that we can do that, which is massive for us.

"Because they are up there, it was a bigger game than usual and we're just happy to come away with three points."

Mills opened the scoring after nine minutes after he tucked the ball home at the second attempt after being set up by Sol Wheatley.

The former Didcot Town marksman then had another chance to double the lead 20 minutes later, but Long Eaton goalkeeper Scott Low managed to get a fingertip to his low effort.

And Low was again called into action to deny Adam Page before Pablo Haysham's shot was deflected for a corner.

Four minutes into the second half, Mills had another chance to score, but his header was straight at Low.

However, it was Rivers in the Hereford goal who made the best save of the match when he tipped Bradley Wells' shot over the bar.

Hereford struggled to create any other chances of note, with the away side proving to be a tough nut to crack.

But the Bulls were also solid in defence and held on to claim the win.

MATCH FACTS

Hereford: Rivers, Green, Edwards, Bonella, Willets, Summers, Wheatley (Hughes 23, Kontic-Coveney 73), Birch, Mills, Haysham, Page. Subs not used: Grant, Miller, Robbins.

Long Eaton: Low, Haynes, Cole, Allen, Pheasant, Rickford, Pilero, Gowing, Ross (Leeming 63), Wells, Anderson (Wearing 85). Subs not used: Mushambi, Mansfield.

Goal: Mills, 9, 1-0.

Referee: James Cox.

Bookings: Hereford – Summers 90, foul; Long Eaton – Leeming, 71.

Attendance: 3,021.