Hereford continued their impressive charge up the Nationwide Conference by extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches at Manor Park on Saturday.

By repeating the scoreline of their last visit to Nuneaton 28 years ago thanks to a 65th-minute goal from substitute Robin Elmes, the Bulls moved up the table and kept the pressure on league leaders Kidderminster Harriers.

The game itself was hardly a classic as United battled against defenders who seemed determined to swap shirts before the game was finished, but Hereford kept going and could easily have added to Elmes' strike in the closing stages.

The game's vital strike came just nine minutes after Elmes was called on to replace hamstring injury victim Paul Fewings.

The big striker, who also came off the bench to score in United's previous game at Stevenage, got in front of his marker to nod Paul Parry's cross past former Hereford goalkeeper Chris Mackenzie.

Elmes has now included 10 Conference goals in his overall tally of 12, which matches the best season of the Sutton Coldfield schoolteacher's career.

Mackenzie produced the save of the game 24 minutes into the first-half when he dived to tip a firmly struck shot by Fewings around the post.

But apart from this high spot, neither keeper had much to do in the first 45 minutes when such shots as there were - and there were precious few - sailed harmlessly high or wide.

After Elmes had headed Hereford in front, there were a number of opportunities to add to the lead, although the closest attempt on goal came at the other end when Dave Crowley's shot smacked against the bar after a tremendous scramble in front of the Hereford net.

In the closing stages, a fine run by Matt Clarke, who often showed up prominently on the Hereford right, set up a chance for Ian Rodgerson but the veteran sliced his shot harmlessly wide.

Leroy May then found Elmes with a fine pass but the former Halesowen striker hammered his shot straight at Mackenzie.

Paul Sturgess, who was cautioned for a second-half foul on the always-dangerous Shaun Wray, is now facing a further period of suspension.

Hereford: Cooksey, Lane, Sturgess, Clarke, James, White, Rodgerson, Snape, May, Fewings (Elmes 56 min), Parry (Williams 71 min). Subs not used: Quy, Hanson, Shirley.

Nuneaton: Mackenzie, Thackeray, McDermott, Simpson, Weaver, Crowley, Wray, Murphy, Broughton, Ducros, Prendergast (Francis 71 mins). Subs not used: Reed, Kotylo, Brown, Shoemake.

Referee: S J Bratt

Attendance: 1,947.