Hereford twice went in front through Dean Smith and Adrian Foster but each time let the advantage slip and were held to a draw by high-riding Scarborough in the Nationwide League Third Division.

Earlier in the season Hereford found goals hard to come by but looked reasonably solid in defence. Now, however, when they are scoring more freely - netting eight times in their last three home league games - they are leaking goals to their opponents.

United director of football Graham Turner was certainly disappointed at the way his side fell away after a confident start. He said: ''For half-an-hour in the first half we played some of our best soccer of the season. I don't know whether their first equaliser was a turning point but after that they raised their game a couple of notches, while our's dropped a notch or two.

''In the second half we lost much of our earlier composure, but Scarborough have made a good start to the season and we knew they would be a hard side to beat.'' Defender Micky Forsyth, on loan from Notts County, initiated a number of attacks on his home debut for Hereford when they were at their best in the first period. But they squandered two gilt-edged chances to take the lead.

In the 13th minute Foster and Chris Hargreaves worked the ball to the right where Gareth Stoker had only keeper Ian Ironside to beat, but he sent his shot wide of the far post.

Then, 10 minutes later, Stoker delivered a perfect cross to the far post where Phil Preedy, who was unable to reproduce the promising performance of the previous Tuesday, completely mistimed his attempted header. In the 28th minute, however, United did get the ball into the net. Stoker's free-kick was headed out to Smith by Stuart Hicks and the central defender drove a low shot past Ironside for his fifth goal of the season.

Boro drew level in the 38th minute when Michael McElhatton nudged Gareth Williams' cross on to David Brooks who netted with a close range shot. Right on half-time Hereford had a lucky escape when Jason Rockett headed against a post.

After the interval Boro's experienced campaigners Andy Ritchie and Gary Bennett began to take a grip on the game and only the alertness of keeper Andy DeBont denied them the lead. He tipped a header from Rockett over the bar in fine style and then dived to his right to parry away Bennett's shot.

United hit back in the 73rd minute through Foster who swivelled on the edge of the penalty box to see his rising shot pushed on into the net by Ironside. But United's lead lasted just three minutes. Substitute Ian Thompstone flicked a headed pass to Ritchie who found space to pick his spot and shoot into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Two Hereford players, Stoker and Neal Bartlett, who was a 72nd-minute substitute for Preedy, received yellow cards.

Hereford: DeBont, Norton, Brough, Smith, Forsyth, Hibbard, Cook, Stoker, Hargreaves, Adrian Foster, Preedy (Bartlett 72 min). Subs not used: Townsend, Warner.

Attendance: 2,506.