Hereford'S unbeaten run stands at an impressive 11 matches after bottom side Stalybridge became their latest Vauxhall Conference victims at Bower Fold on Saturday.

The Bulls had to overcome not only a determined home side but diabolical weather and pitch conditions to secure their win. United's veteran defender Trevor Matthew-son described the saturated, churned-up surface as the worst he had encountered in 18 years of football. Matthewson did not allow the pitch to prevent him from turning in a match winning performance, however, and his two strikes in the last 12 minutes allowed United to overturn a Stalybridge advantage they had hardly deserved on the balance of play.

The home side started brightly, with United keeper Andy Quy confidently fielding shots from Lee Trundle and Chris Dolby, before Hereford got into their stride. From the quarter-hour mark, they applied prolonged pressure on the Celtic goal and it was no surprise when they went in front on 29 minutes.

The impressive Tony Agana, a skilful leader of the line throughout, found his young strike partner, Gavin Williams. The teenager, who showed some neat touches on his full debut, slipped the ball to Chris Harg-reaves and the midfielder lashed home an angled left-foot shot from just inside the penalty area.

Hereford again made a slow start after the break but this time they were punished. Lee Coathup's 48th-minute pass found Dean Martin and he held off the challenge of Richard Walker to shoot past Quy. Hargreaves was then twice foiled by keeper Neil Cutler as United hit back but it was Celtic who took the lead on 76 minutes when Trundle played a neat ball inside to Dolby to fire home.

Two minutes later Dolby was replaced by 39-year-old Imre Varadi, wresting from Matthewson the dubious title of the oldest player on the pitch. But United's 35-year-old defe-nder showed the staying power, flicking home a Brian McGorry corner from inside the six-yard box on 78 minutes and repeating the strike right on time to give United victory.

In his eventful game, Matthewson had received a first-half yellow card for a foul on Trundle. Staly-bridge skipper Brendan Burke was also cautioned for hacking down Jamie Pitman.

Hereford: Quy, Rodgerson, Walker, Pitman, Brough, Matthewson, Hargreaves, McGorry, Agana, Williams, Mahon. Subs not used: Warner, Durham, Parry.

Attendance: 795.