Shrewsbury Town 1 Hereford United 2 HEREFORD completed a Football League double for the first time over Shrewsbury as they completed their 11th away win of the season.

The last time the Bulls managed a league success in Shrewsbury was way back in 1935-6 when Harry Mardon's goal clinched a Birmingham League success.

But two goals from Gary Hooper which clinched Saturday's success were crucial in moving Hereford another three points towards automatic promotion.

"It was a brilliant win," said centre-back John McCombe. "The conditions spoilt the game a bit but we did well after conceding the early goal.

"We did particularly well not to concede another one before half-time.

"To fight back like that showed a lot of resilience"

Hereford were able to welcome back Ben Smith after injury. The Bulls skipper forged a new central midfield partnership with loan acquisition Stephen Gleeson.

The Eire international struggled to come to terms with the pace of the game during the first half but showed his quality in the second period.

Hereford showed their threat early on when Sherjill MacDonald curled a shot narrowly over from the edge of the area in the fifth minute.

But Town hit back quickly and opened up the United defence to take the lead within 60 seconds of that early chance.

Guy Madjo played a neat pass into the path of Asa Hall, on loan from Birmingham, who clipped a neat shot past Wayne Brown.

Hereford took some time to settle. But, on 27 minutes, they drew level with a beautifully-worked goal.

Clint Easton's pass sent MacDonald racing to the bye-line and his cross picked out Hooper.

The on-loan Southend man's shot was blocked by keeper Glyn Garner but the rebound fell to Johnson who smashed the ball goalwards and Hooper got the final touch.

If that was a well-worked goal, the second, midway through the second period, was even better.

MacDonald was again the instigator with a fine run and pass to pick out Hooper who, in turn, sent Johnson away on the right.

The midfielder's cross found MacDonald at the far post and he selflessly headed across goal for Hooper to score for the fifth time in five matches.

Shrewsbury continued to provide a threat and Hereford breathed a sigh of relief when Steve Leslie's header across goal picked out Kevin McIntyre whose effort flashed inches past an upright.

After that, however, Hereford defended with considerable purpose and there were few real moments of anxiety for the Bulls.

"Their two front lads were decent and caused us some problems at times but all of our back four and Wayne Brown defended well," said McCombe.

After the match, Town manager Gary Peters could not resist a dig at Graham Turner's success in the loan market.

"We competed well but did not quite have the quality they did in front of goal," said the former Wimbledon man.

"But it's not their quality anyway, is it? They have seven players on loan from Premiership or Championship clubs and they will have to go back.

"Were we playing Hereford or an amalgamated team from the Premiership and the Championship?"

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, McCombe, Beckwith, Rose; Johnson, Smith, Gleeson, Easton (Threlfall, 85 min); MacDonald (Robinson, 81 min), Hooper (Bemjamin, 87 min). Subs not used: Ingham, Taylor.

Shrewsbury: Garner, Herd, Langmead, Tierney, Meredith (Cooke, 77 min), Moss (Leslie, 65 min), Hall, McIntyre, Pugh (Humphrey, 70 min), Constable, Madjo. Subs not used: Hunt, Bevan.

Referee: Uriah Rennie (Sheffield).

Attendance: 7,402 (1,655 from Hereford) Yellow cards: Hereford - Beckwith, foul, 38 min; Shrewsbury - Constable, foul, 77 min).

Goals: Hall, 6 min, 1-0; Hooper, 27 min, 1-1; Hooper, 67 min, 1-2.