TWO goals in a three-minute spell by Hereford left-back Murray Fishlock and striker Neil Grayson early in the second period completely transformed this GM Vauxhall Conference match after Hednesford had dominated the first half to take a 1-0 lead through substitute Tony Hemmings.

Second-placed Hednesford, unbeaten in their previous nine away games, monopolised the first-half possession and were no doubt aggrieved that they were not leading by a bigger margin at the interval. But Hemmings, who substituted for the injured Delton Francis in the 14th minute, was fortunate that he was still on the field to net a 31st-minute goal when he rounded Richard Walker and beat keeper Andy Quy with a low cross shot. Ten minutes earlier he escaped with only a yellow card from Taunton referee Guy Beale after an ugly challenge on John Brough.

During sustained pressure by the Pitmen, former United player Carl Beeston dropped a cross on to the bar, while Brian McGorry cleared off the line after Quy had partially stopped a fierce drive by Paul Carty. The home keeper also did well to save a testing shot from Joe O'Connor.

In the first period United director of football Graham Turner employed the 5-4-1 system which had earned his side a 1-1 FA Cup draw the previous week. But at half-time he changed tactics. Skipper David Norton, groin injury, and Jamie Pitman were withdrawn. James McCue was sent on to support Neil Grayson up front, while Gary Cook was deployed in midfield, Gavin Mahon pushed further forward and Rob Warner dropped back into Norton's right-back slot.

Turner said: ''We were very poor in the first half and I would have been justified in pulling half-a-dozen players off. But I decided to wait until half-time and straighten out a few things.'' After Quy had made an excellent save to keep out a shot from Ware, United's change of strategy paid off.

In the 58th minute Fishlock crowned an effective all-round performance by cutting in from the left and driving a perfectly-placed low drive out of keeper Scott Cooksey's reach. Three minutes later Grayson climbed above Hednesford's defence at the far post to head home Mahon's penetrating centre for his 13th goal of the campaign.

After that the Pitmen were never able to regain the initiative and caused only an occasional alarm in their search for an equaliser. McCue received a late booking for dissent, while four Hednesford players received yellow cards.

Hereford: Quy, Norton (McCue 46 min), Brough, Walker, Fishlock, Mahon, Pitman (Cook 46 min), McGorry, Hargreaves, Warner, Grayson. Sub not used: Williams (G).

Attendance: 2,278.