Hereford United's poor start to their Nationwide League Third Division programme continued on Saturday when Stephen Halliday snatched an 85th minute winner for Hartlepool United.

To rub salt into the wound Hereford substitute Ian Foster was sent off following an off-the-ball incident with Mark Cooper in the 89th minute. Sheffield referee Uriah Rennie consulted a linesman before flourishing the red card. The linesman was also centre stage the minute before Halliday scored. Adrian Foster fired a shot into the net following a right-wing corner from Murray Fishlock and Mr Rennie pointed to the centre spot. The linesman had raised his flag for offside before the ball entered the net, however, and, after conferring, the referee awarded The Pool a free-kick.

The defeat left Hereford languishing in 20th place with only four points from five league matches and was another blow to their hopes of quickly establishing themselves as one of the divisions front runners.

They had far more possession than Hartlepool but their attacks invariably petered out through ineffectual finishing.

In the first half The Pool were saved by Mike Barron, their on loan signing from Middlesbrough who just managed to clear off Adrian Foster's foot after keeper Stephen Pears was unable to hold on to a Chris Hargreaves' drive. As half-time approached Pears beat away an angled drive from David Norton. Adrian Foster then climbed above The Pool's defence for a Fishlock free-kick and sent his header thudding against the bar. After the break Dean Smith planted a couple of headers into Pears' arms but otherwise he had an easy second period.

Hartlepool were no more potent as an attacking force and the only save of any degree of difficulty home keeper Andy DeBont had to made came in the ninth minute when he tipped David Clegg's rising shot over the bar.

The Bulls were punished for a lapse of concentration immediately after Adrian Foster's 'goal' had been disallowed, however. A rash tackle allowed Hartlepool to gain possession in midfield and Clegg's pass put Halliday through to score with a 15-yard shot.

A disappointed Hereford United director of football Graham Turner said: ''It certainly hasn't been the start we wanted. The make-up of the side was wrong and the way we played was wrong. And we gave away a bad goal.

''I shall have to consider whether to make changes and whether to alter the formation.'' Referring to the sending off of Ian Foster, Turner commented: ''I didn't see the incident as it was off the ball. But we will look at the video and then decide what action to take.''

Hereford United: DeBont, Norton, Townsend, Smith, Brough, Fishlock, Downing, Stoker (Pitman 83rd min), Mahon (Ian Foster 69 min), Hargreaves, Adrian Foster. Sub not used: Sutton.

Attendance: 2,735.