Hereford United's mid-season slump continued after two second-half goals in a disastrous two minute spell consigned them to defeat at The Lawn.

Hopes were high in the run-up to Christmas that a good run might see the Bulls regain the League status they lost two years ago, but the recent sequence of four losses in five games has left them well out of touch with the leading group and all but removed hope of a Conference-topping campaign.

Yesterday's defeat against struggling Forest Green was particularly hard to take after Hereford had gone into a 55th minute lead.

Mark Taylor's corner on the right was half-cleared to Robbie Dennison who made a good break down the left wing before putting a dangerous cross back into the centre. The ball reached John Snape who drilled his left-foot shot from 20 yards into the corner of the net. It was the former Halesowen skipper's first goal for Hereford.

Equally as telling. however, was an injury to Ian Wright in the melee which led to the goal. The centre-back received prolonged treatment to an arm injury from physiotherapist Simon Thompson and, although he resumed briefly, swathed in bandages, he was quickly forced to give way to substitute Paul Parry.

This was a major blow as Wright had been the king-pin in a largely inexperienced defence which had battled away well in the first hour.

Without him, it always seemed likely that Hereford would struggle, even more than usual, to defend against crosses and so it proved on 67 minutes, when Ian Hedges headed home after the United back line had failed to clear a corner.

Worse was to follow just a couple of minutes later when Paul Hunt raced on to a through ball from Danny Bailey and slid the ball past Andy Quy from the edge of the area.

Hereford, who had had the better of play in the first half on a saturated pitch without really looking like scoring, then regained some measure of control.

Goal chances were, however, still at a premium, and the best efforts came from Parry who brought Justin Shuttlewood to his knees to save after 77 minutes and then headed a Taylor corner narrowly wide of the upright seconds before the end.

Wright and Robbie Dennison were both booked for fouls in the first half.

HEREFORD: Quy, Lane, Cross, Snape, Wright (sub Parry, 62 mins), James, Williams, Taylor, Leadbeater, Rodgerson, Dennison. Subs not used: Druce and Shirley.