Hereford'S dismal run of 13 league games without victory finally came to an end with a hard-fought victory at fourth-placed Cambridge in the Nationwide Third Division on Saturday.

United's first victory since a 3-1 success at Chester on October 26 came thanks to a magnificent 25-yard shot by Chris Hargreaves after just 11 minutes. Hargreaves strode on to Mika Kottila's flick from goalkeeper Trevor Wood's free-kick and drilled a right-foot drive into the corner of Scott Barrett's net for his third goal of the season.

Hargreaves could easily have scored a hat-trick as he squandered two excellent chances in the second half. Firstly, Kottila and Adrian Foster's good work presented him with an open goal from 15 yards but he hammered his shot against a post and wide, then, in the 77th minute, he showed good pace to burst clear but shot over with only Barrett to beat.

However, like all his colleagues, Hargreaves was in buoyant mood after the game. ''Today might be the turning point for us,'' he said.

Brough on the substitute's bench and, for the first time this season, reverted to a flat back four with Beeston, who gave a hard working display, lining up with Keith Downing, Gareth Stoker and Hargreaves in a four-man midfield.

The change of tactics was more than justified as all the United players gave committed displays which well merited the three points.

Wood was in the action a couple of times in the first half with saves from Billy Beall and Michael Kyd, but John Taylor wasted Camb-ridge's best first-half chance when he scuffed his shot wide from 10 yards with only Wood to beat.

Kyd continued to pose problems down the right after the break and it took a diving catch by Wood to cut out a dangerous cross just three minutes into the half.

Kottila might have done better with a header from a Stoker cross on 50 minutes but directed his effort straight at Barrett when well placed and, with the action switching from end to end, substitute Barnwell could have equalised. But, after rounding Wood and Murray Fishlock, he directed his shot into the side netting.

Hereford nerves were not helped by referee Knight adding eight minutes of stoppage time but the Bulls deservedly held on. Although it was a relatively clean game, Hereford picked up yellow cards for Kottila (dissent), David Norton (dissent), Downing (foul), Foster (retaliation) and Trevor Matthewson (time wasting).

Hereford: Wood, Norton (sub Warner 90 mins), Fishlock, Smith, Beeston, Matthewson, Hargreaves, Stoker, A. Foster, Kottila (sub Brough, 63 mins), Downing. Sub not used: Mahon.

Attendance: 3,018.