A DRAMATIC injury-time winner from Dave Ridings at Hilton Park condemned Hereford to their third successive Nationwide Conference defeat on Friday.

Leigh, in their first Conference season since promotion from the Unibond League last term, claimed their first ever win over the Bulls, who handed a debut to on-loan Wolves youngster Seamus Crowe.

It was RMI's seventh win of the year and continued a fine run of form which has seen them shoot up the table from relegation candidates to top six contenders.

After a goalless league game at Edgar Street, another stalemate looked on the cards until the 90th minute when late Leigh pressure paid off.

Tony Black flicked on Dave Gardner's cross to Ridings, who headed into the top corner of the net for his 11th goal of the season.

It completed a miserable night for the Bulls, who had experienced midfielder Ian Rodgerson sent off in the 74th minute with the scores locked at 1-1.

Rodgerson was shown the red card after a clash with home substitute Steve Jones, who had been introduced 11 minutes previously after returning late from semi-professional international duty.

Hereford boss Graham Turner was furious with the decision and laid the blame for the defeat firmly at the feet of the referee. He said: "The game changed when we had a man sent off. It is almost a mystery to me.

"All he has done is fend off the player and he has been shown the red card. I never saw anything at all to suggest his sending off was justified.

"I can't argue with the way we have worked and it is a travesty we have got nothing out of the game."

Chances were at a premium in the first-half, but sloppy defending cost United a goal in the 21st minute when Ian Swan's long ball bounced on the edge of the box.

Black's shot rebounded off advancing keeper Scott Cooksey and into the path of winger Ian Monk, who gratefully cracked it home.

United came out in the second-half in a more determined mood and home keeper Craig Dootson was forced into a good save two minutes after the break when James Quiggin pulled the ball back for Rodgerson.

And the Bulls netted the elusive equaliser in the 54th minute when John Shirley's inswinging cross was volleyed in superbly by Rob Elmes on the turn.

But Rodgerson's dismissal and Ridings' late winner condemned Hereford to a defeat which pushed them down the table.

Leigh: Dootson, Spooner, Trees (German 80 mins), Durkin, Farrell, Swan (Hayder 84 mins), Monk (Jones 63 mins), Ridings, Kielty, Black, Gardner. Subs not used: Mason, O'Conner.

Hereford: Cooksey, Shirley, Sturgess, Robinson, Wright, James, Quiggin, Crowe (Snape 77 mins), Elmes (Giddings 81 mins), Rodgerson, Parry. Subs not used: Baker, Hanson.

Referee: C Boyeson (Hull).

Attendance: 503.