ROBIN Elmes' 76th-minute goal finally brought to an end Hereford's run of seven games without a win with this Nationwide Conference success.

And the Bulls were good value for a win which might, with more composed finishing, have been even more emphatic against the Keys Park club who now have a battle of their own on their hands after suffering their fourth consecutive defeat.

Hereford did well in failing to allow a 45-minute delay to the kick-off time to disrupt their concentration.

Referee David Bryan put back the 3pm start to allow some of the home players caught up in traffic disruption on the M6 to arrive at the ground.

When play finally got underway, Hereford wasted no time in establishing their dominance with Mark Taylor missing a great chance to open the scoring on three minutes.

The former Shrewsbury midfielder fired well wide of the goal after good work by Ian Rodgerson and Gavin Williams.

The miss unfortunately set the tone for the half with a host of good opportunities wasted.

But the Bulls could hardly say that fortune was on their side in two incidents when the woodwork came to the home side's rescue.

On 19 minutes, Taylor's well-placed corner was met by John Snape's glancing header but the ball struck the inside of the post and was hacked to safety.

Then, a brilliant run by Paul Parry saw t he young winger carry the ball from well inside his own half to the edge of the penalty area where he slipped a pass to Elmes. The striker aimed for the corner of the net but his shot hit the outside of the post and went behind for a goal-kick.

Hereford's domination of the game continued into the second period and only a brilliant save by Billy Stewart foiled Parry when the youngster got in a powerful volley from Snape's cross.

When Gavin Williams ended a good run by sending a shot fizzing past the post it seemed as though Hereford's opportunity to seal all the points might have gone.

But, on 76 minutes, Williams produced a piece of trickery on the edge of the area and sent in a delicate cross to the far post. Elmes met the ball perfectly and his header had too much pace for Stewart, although the keeper got a hand to the ball.

New loan signings Scott Cooksey and Tom White had few chances to show their talents as the ball spent most of the game in the home half. But former Shrewsbury goalkeeper Cooksey saved a point for the Bulls three minutes from time when he dived to hold a volley from Chris Brindley.

Hereford: Cooksey, Lane, Sturgess, Snape, White, James, Rodgerson, Taylor Elmes , Williams (Fewings 88 min), Parry (May 77 min). Subs not used: Jones, Hanson, Wall.

Hednesford: Stewart, Hibbins (Evans 80 min), Bradley, Comyn, Brindley, Bettney, Kimmins, Goodwin (Twynham 78 min), Davis (Szewczyk 76 min), Norman, Airdrie. Subs not used: Hunter, O'Conner.

Referee: David Bryan (Stamford)

Attendance: 1,129