HEREFORD left it late before sealing their second straight win to maintain their perfect start to the season.

The Wyesiders had seen a 15-0 advantage eroded and the scores stood level at 18-18 going into stoppage time.

But Hereford were awarded a penalty and Morgan Goodall, who had failed with a similar range kick two minutes previously, stepped up again.

The crowd, fearing the worse, let out a collective groan as the ball left his boot only to see the wind to intervene and drift the kick just inside the far upright for the crucial score.

"I thought it was missing as soon as I struck it," admitted Goodall.

"I had blurred vision because I had a knock on head just after half-time but I came back on because of an injury - I thought it was missing but the wind brought it back in.

"We have played poorly two weeks running but we have got the win on each occasion so that's a positive thing."

Hereford had begun well with Goodall landing an early penalty.

The outstanding Matt Pritchard, who worked typically hard in attack and defence, was rewarded with the opening try after 25 minutes.

And a good passing movement, involving Goodall and Dean Powell, played in Tom Ewins to add a second three minutes later.

When Goodall extended the lead to 15 points with a successful conversion, Hereford seemed on their way to a convincing victory.

But, as the game became scrappy, Stratford cut the deficit to seven points with a try and a penalty before the interval.

An excellent long-range penalty by Powell, promoted to kicking duties with Goodall temporarily off the field following a blow to the head, re-established a 10-point advantage.

But a successful penalty and a converted try, three minutes from the end, tied the scores and set up an exciting finish.

"It was a little bit too close for comfort," admitted Pritchard.

"But we ground it out and a win's a win.

"Taking such a good early lead may have been part of the problem but we should have finished that game a lot sooner and cut them off before half-time.

"But we stopped being as dominant as we were at the start and let them get back into the game.

"It's a young side, it's the start of a new season and there has been a bit of movement in the coaching staff during the summer and so we may be a few weeks behind where we should be in terms of bedding in."

Coach Kieram Hallam, who has returned after a couple of seasons away at Ledbury said: "We started well but them slipped up for a massive period of the game in the middle and then Morgan got the four points for us.

"We conceded a lot of penalties and that is something we are going to have to work on - just listening to what the referee is saying, he is the man in charge and we need to respect that and agree with him.

"We have a young side and there is a lot of potential. Everyone goes on about the backs but there is huge potential among the forwards.

"We will be very competitive in this league and the boys have set their sights on winning it.

"It feels like home coming back here - I have had some very good times at Wyeside and I am looking forward to some more with these boys."