Hereford'S hopes of challenging the Football Conference pacemaking teams over the Christmas period floundered with this defeat at Edgar Street on Saturday.

On the back of successive away victories over Hayes and Kidderminster Harriers, the Bulls should have been raring to destroy Kettering but their performance had about as much fizz as a faulty cracker.

Their casualty list was extended when central defender Stuart Evans was stretchered off with a hamstring injury in the 31st minute and at half-time coach Keith Downing withdrew, still suffering the effects of a head injury received at Kidderminster.

But United director of football Graham Turner said: ''Kettering deserved to win. They worked much harder than us. They had the will to win, we didn't. It was very disappointing after our performances at Hayes and Kiddermin-ster.''

After a bright start, Hereford conceded control to the visitors who took the lead in first-half injury time.

Kevin Collins, who had moved from left-back to replace Evans, headed away weakly. The ball hit fellow defender Ian Wright and spun away to Lee Hudson who drilled a 10-yard drive past keeper Andy Quy.

In the 58th minute Kettering went two up. Substitute Matthew Cross tried to steer Carl Adams' low cross away from goal but the ball hit Matt Fisher on the shin before entering the net.

Kettering keeper Adam Sollitt was not extended until the 72nd minute when he pushed away a fierce drive from Richard Leadbeater. A minute later Sollitt was beaten by a Leadbeater header but Adams was on hand to clear off the line.

An isolated plus point for Hereford was a promising Conference home debut by 18-year-old Paul Parry. He was willing to run at Kettering's defence and delivered a number of crosses which went begging.

Hereford: Quy, Clarke, Evans (Cross 31 min), Wright, Collins, Snape, Downing (Leadbeater 45 min), Taylor, Druce (Dyer 75 min), Williams, Parry.

Attendance: 2,181.

l After this defeat -- their third of the season in the Conference at Edgar Street -- United will need to beat Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough on Boxing Day and Forest Green Rovers at The Lawn on Monday if they are to mount a championship bid in the New Year.

Chris Lane has completed his suspension, but John Snape is due a suspension after being sent off for two bookable offences at Hayes.