GOALS in the last six minutes from John Brough and Jamie Pitman rescued Hereford United from another desperate situation and gave them their first GM Vauxhall Conference double with this win over Farnborough Town at Edgar Street on Tuesday, writes LAURIE TEAGUE.

As so often this season, the Bulls were chasing the game after David Mehew shot Farnborough into a 67th-minute lead. With time running out, Boro looked on course to avenge the 2-0 home defeat by Hereford last month and two previous FA Cup reverses. Then, in the 84th minute, Rob Warner swung a flag kick to the near post where central defender Brough squeezed a header between keeper Stuart MacKenzie and the woodwork to make it 1-1.

The home fans, who justifiably had become decidedly agitated at the looming prospect of a third home defeat in four outings, burst into full throttle to spur United on. Reward came just four minutes later. Warner gave Pitman space on the right with a perfectly-weighted pass from the outside of his boot. The midfielder brought it under control, moved forward a yard and left MacKenzie helpless as he arrowed his shot home from 10 yards. He said afterwards: ''I enjoyed that goal. It was a perfect pass from Rob and I thought I got a good first touch.''

It was a vital strike as one point from their three previous matches resulted in the attendance tumbling from an early season average of 3,257 to 1,709. United director of football Graham Turner admitted: ''There was tremendous relief in the dressing room and hopefully the win will boost confidence. I thought we were unlucky to fall behind against a team who some regard as the Conference's dark horses.''

In the first half Brough was unfortunate not to net when he twice rattled the woodwork, first from a corner and then a free-kick by Chris Hargreaves, who turned an ankle and had to retire in the 41st minute. Andy de Bont returned in place of Chris MacKenzie and early on made one fine finger-tip save from Phil Wingfield. Mehew's shot which beat him was unleashed from 25 yards but he was the victim of a bad bounce which took the ball over his outstretched arm as he dived to his right.

Hereford United: de Bont, Rodgerson, Brough, Walker, Fishlock, Hargreaves (Cook 41 min), Warner, Mahon, Pitman, Foster, Grayson. Subs not used: Matthewson, Williams.