YOUNG star striker Gavin Williams fired Hereford into the last 32 of the FA Umbro Trophy for the first time since 1971 with an excellent 33rd-minute goal on Saturday.

This competition has hardly kindled much excitement for the Bulls since their return to non-league ranks with a meagre tally of two wins in three previous seasons.

But a solid display against the only Conf-erence side to beat them in the Trophy during those years kept hopes burning that United may fight their way through to the final at Villa Park in May.

The victory certainly eases the financial pressure at Edgar Street, although the board of directors can hardly have been delighted by the thin gate of 1,294, one of the lowest crowds for a competitive home game since United were relegated from the Football League.

Although United eventually crept home by the narrowest of margins, they certainly gave those who were in attendance on Saturday a few anxious moments before the final whistle blew.

But there seemed to be little danger ahead after a commanding first half performance which should have seen the Bulls away and clear.

Hereford were into their stride right from the start with two corners forced in the opening seconds, the second coming after a Williams shot was deflected narrowly wide of the upright.

Williams was a constant source of problems for the Dover defence during the initial exchanges, providing a cross from which Rob Elmes headed narrowly wide and then combining well with Paul Sturgess to force a desperate clearance from Simon Beard as Elmes bore down on goal.

The inevitable goal proved well worth the wait.

Sturgess's pass found Elmes and a delightful piece of skill by the big striker earned him the space he needed to provide a perfect pass which found Williams in space in the Dover penalty area. A flashing shot from the highly-rated striker saw the ball resting in the back of the visitors' net.

Dangerous strike pairing Danny Hockton and Joff Vansittart found their touch after the interval as Dover attacked down the Edgar Street slope and the Hereford defence was often at full stretch.

A speculative Hockton lob forced a fine diving save from Scott Cooksey after 57 minutes, but the United keeper had to rely on the woodwork to save him when Vansittart got in a powerful shot from Steve Norman's free-kick seven minutes from time.

Referee Steve Castle managed to caution six players, including Stur-gess (foul), Elmes (dissent) and Michael McIndoe (foul), despite there being hardly a bad foul in the game.

Hereford: Cooksey, Clarke, Sturgess, Robinson, Wright, Wall, Rodgerson, Snape, Elmes (Giddings 89 mins, Williams, McIndoe. Subs not used: Quiggin, Baker, Gardiner, Moran.

Dover: Hyde, Munday, Norman, Chapman, Shearer, Beard (White 86 mins), Pluck, Strouts (McRobert 70 mins), Vansittart, Hockton, Le Bihan. Subs not used: Hogg, Hudson.

Referee: S Castle (Wolverhampton)

Attendance: 1,294.