''THE most inept performance by far in the two and a bit years I've been at the club,'' fumed Hereford United director of football Graham Turner after his side's dismal home defeat to GM Vauxhall Conference rivals Stevenage on Saturday.

Turner's anger at his side's display was understandable after they gave the Hertfordshire visitors a two-goal start and failed to make any use of their home advantage in front of another large crowd. On this performance they looked anything but favourites for promotion. United missed skipper David Norton (groin injury) and Tony Agana (hamstring) and were further hampered by Brian McGorry's viral complaint which meant that the midfielder was operating at far from his best.

United never looked like challenging Steven-age's superiority and only in the last five minutes did they force Boro goalkeeper Des Gallagher into a save. Stevenage took the lead after just four minutes when Jason Soloman put in a firm header from a Gary Crawshaw corner.

Chris MacKenzie, one of only two United survivors from the FA Cup win over Stevenage less than two years ago, made a brilliant, diving save but Ryan Kirby seized on his parry to shoot home from two yards out. Four minutes later and the lead was doubled. Mick Trebble found space and sent in a 20-yard drive which MacKenzie touched but was unable to keep out.

Stevenage were so far on top in the first half that they forced eight corners without reply and matters changed little after the interval. With 54 minutes played, Crawshaw crossed to Neil Catlin and the striker's shot from 20 yards beat MacKenzie but hit the underside of the cross-bar and bounced out for Ian Rodgerson to clear.

MacKenzie was fortunate again five minutes later when Trebble, 35 yards out, seized on his weak clearance and sent in a lob which defeated the United keeper but again struck the woodwork and bounced clear. Turner introduced all of his substitutes in an attempt to return some of the pressure but the only Hereford chances came in the closing stages when Gallagher saved well from Ian Foster after a Neil Grayson cross and then Richard Walker headed a Foster cross against the upright.

Hereford: MacKenzie, Rodgerson, Fishlock, Matthewson, Brough (sub Pitman 65 mins), Walker, Hargreaves (sub Jordan 65 mins), McGorry (sub Warner 55 mins), Grayson, Foster, Mahon.

Attendance: 2,937.