MISSED chances cost Hereford the chance of turning their useful start to the Nationwide Conference season into a truly impressive one at Edgar Street on Monday, writes RICHARD PRIME.

With four games played, a record of 'won two drawn two' meets the hopes of most supporters, but few would have expected, at the campaign's outset, that the wins would have come on opposition territory and the draws at home.

Hereford had the better of Monday's match but generally lacked the fluidity of passing that brought wins at Kettering and Hayes.

The Bull's best two openings, one either side of half-time, fell to midfielder Michael McIndoe and skipper Ian Wright.

McIndoe's 16th-minute effort came when he raced clear of the defence, only to fire straight at the legs of Vics' goalkeeper Lance Key.

Key was the hero again when Hereford worked their other golden opening in the 65th minute. The visitors' off-side trap was finally sprung by McIndoe's free-kick, leaving Wright in the clear.

The skipper hammered his shot at Key, saw his second effort also blocked, and then watched as John Snape hammered the rebound over the bar.

But the closest that Hereford came to scoring was in the 44th minute.

Had Chris Lane's 35-yard free-kick been six inches lower it would have been the proverbial net-buster, but, as it was, the ball smashed against the woodwork and rebounded to safety.

But if these were the moments that could have brought Hereford victory, they were indebted to goalkeeper Scott Cooksey's agility when he saved Colin Rose's dipping 14th-minute volley.

Herefoprd: Cooksey, Lane, Clarke, Robinson, Wright, James, Rodgerson (Parry 55 mins), Snape, Elmes (Giddings 55 mins), Williams, McIndoe. Subs not used: Baker, Gardiner, Moran.

Northwich: Key, Bailey, Bates, Robertson, Davis, Devlin, Norris, Rose, Kimmins (Burke 89 mins), Fletcher, Vicary (Poland 76 mins). Subs not used: Simpson, Holcroft, Ellis.

Referee: Stephen Tanner (Bristol).

Attendance: 2,461.