Hereford turned in their best performance of the season to inflict the first home defeat on highly fancied Stevenage on Saturday.

After centre-back Rich-ard Walker netted twice in the first 16 minutes, Hereford never remotely looked like losing their grip against opponents who had claimed a comfortable double over the Bulls last term.

It was just the sort of revived performance that Hereford needed after two poor home displays during the previous 10 days had seen them drop five points from a possible six. The way they started showed that director of football Graham Turner and coach Keith Downing had left them in no doubt that things needed to improve.

Only a fine save by keeper Des Gallagher prevented Gavin Williams from giving Hereford a fifth-minute lead when the youngster burst through following an exchange of passes with Richard Leadbeater.

But the opener was not long coming. Two minutes later, from Hereford's fourth corner of the game, Gallagher missed Mark Taylor's flag-kick and Walker rose at the back post to plant a firm header into the net.

After 16 minutes the same pairing repeated the move. Hereford gained another corner when Gallagher's mix-up with Stevenage skipper Mark Smith allowed the ball to run out of play.

From Taylor's first centre, Walker had a good shot blocked but when the ex-Shrewsbury Town midfielder returned the ball into the middle the centre-back made no mistake with another powerful header.

Little was seen of the Stevenage attack and John Snape missed a great change to add a third on the stroke of half-time when he screwed his shot yards wide from the edge of the area after another Taylor corner had caused problems in the home defence.

Play continued in much the same vein after the break and Williams was unlucky when he burst past Smith into the area, only to lose control at the vital moment.

On 68 minutes, Lead-beater came within inches of scoring when he intercepted a Smith back-pass but lobbed the ball narrowly wide.

This turned out to be merely a rehearsal for Hereford's third goal on 79 minutes. Smith seemed to see no danger when Williams played a through ball towards the left-hand side of the penalty area and Leadbeater nipped in to round Gallagher and slide the ball home from a narrow angle.

Gavin Mahon scuffed his shot weakly at Gallagher in the closing stages and Leadbeater twice went close to adding a fourth as Hereford finished strongly.

Stevenage produced only one moment of real danger just a minute from time when Andy Quy was forced into a fine double save to prevent Michael Love and then Jamie Barnwell claiming what would have been a scarcely deserved consolation.

Ian Wright, Williams and Boro defenders Lee Howarth and Dominic Naylor all picked up yellow cards from Lincoln referee David Drysdale.

Hereford: Quy, Rodgerson, James, Mahon, Wright, Walker, Williams, Taylor (sub Druce 84 mins), Leadbeater, Lane, Snape. Subs not used: Cook and Evans.