TWO-GOAL Rob Elmes was Hereford's hero as United set up an intriguing FA Umbro Trophy semi-final second leg at Edgar Street on Saturday.

But with rather better second-half defending, the Bulls would now have at least one foot firmly on the road to the final at Villa Park on May 13.

Hereford seemed set for a comfortable win after a commanding first-half display, but the arrival of Forest Green substitute Frankie Bennett at half-time turned the game round.

Apart from the occasional Forest Green foray, United had almost all of the attacking before the interval.

Paul Parry sent a 30-yarder skimming just wide after six minutes after latching on to a good pass from Phil Robinson and then Elmes was unable to get much power behind his shot after Gavin Williams had raced away down the right wing.

But on 28 minutes the goal which had been threatening did finally arrive and again it came from a right-wing movement.

This time it was Matt Clarke who showed good pace to get to the by-line and his cross broke kindly for Elmes to smash the ball home from close range.

Elmes almost put the game beyond doubt two minutes before the break when he headed against an upright, but the game quickly changed after the interval.

The home side mounted attack after attack and the United defence suddenly became hesitant and erratic.

The problems began in the half's first minute when Scott Cooksey misjudged a through ball and had to concede a corner, from which he produced a weak punch for Adam Lockwood to shoot wide.

The United keeper was then almost caught off his line as a long cross from Jason Drysdale clipped the top of the bar.

The equaliser finally arrived in the 62nd minute when Cooksey appeared slow off his line as Bennett steamed through to chip delicately home.

Cooksey redeemed himself somewhat after 73 minutes with a fine save from a Tony Daley 20-yarder and United appeared to have come through the worst. When Elmes smashed home another volley on 78 minutes, after Tony James had flicked on Rodger-son's free-kick, it seemed as though the victory was assured.

But within two minutes James was ruled to have brought down Alex Meechan and the striker got up to strike home the penalty.

Elmes went closest to winning the game when he drove just wide following another Rodgerson free-kick move but the sides go to Edgar Street this Saturday knowing that once again it's 'winner takes all'.

Hereford: Cooksey, Clarke, Sturgess (Shirley 67 mins), Robinson, Wright, James, Rodgerson, Snape, Elmes, Williams, Parry (Bull 84 mins). Subs not used: Crowe, Baker, Wall.

Forest Green: Perrin, Cousins, Lockwood, M Foster, Clark, Burns, Daley, Drysdale, A Foster, Meechan, Prince (Bennett 46 mins). Subs not used: Allen, Hunt, Adams, Ghent.

Referee: RJ Olivier (West Midlands)

Attendance: 2,711.