Hereford United wasted two penalties and then fell to a late 'sucker' goal as they surrendered their 15-match unbeaten run at Edgar Street in the Football Conference on Saturday. Midfielder Mark Taylor in the first half and striker Richard Leadbeater after the break failed to beat keeper Russell Meara with spot-kicks.

In the 89th minute substitute Barry Moore showed practice pays when he was allowed to seize on a loose ball and lash a 20-yarder past keeper Andy Quy. During the half-time interval Moore could be seen practising his long-range shooting skills.

The Hayes goal was originally credited to Moore's fellow substitute Lee Caitlin due to confusion over their numbering.

Hayes conceded the first penalty after a handling offence by Chris Sparks in the 21st minute. Taylor directed his shot to Meara's right but it lacked power and the keeper pushed it away for a corner.

Gloucester referee Phil Prosser awarded the second spot-kick in the 59th minute after Jason Goodliffe had blocked a Gavin Williams shot with his hand.

Play was held up for a couple of minutes while Taylor and Hayes defender Lee Flynn received treatment.

When Leadbeater was eventually given the go-ahead Meara dived to his left to turn the ball behind for another flag kick.

Meara said: ''The first one I just guessed which way he would shoot. For the second I stood up to see which way Leadbeater was going to put it because I knew the pressure was on him. I have played Conference football for three years and I have about a 75 percent success rate in saving penalties.''

A bitterly disappointed United director of football Graham Turner said: ''We built up a head of steam in the second half but when we failed to score from the second penalty I began to fear for the result. A draw would have been a poor result but at least it would have kept our unbeaten home run going. To lose was a disaster.''

In the first half the Bulls allowed Hayes too much control and when Taylor and Chris Lane did cut out a couple of good openings they went begging. Chris Boden, making his Conference debut, set up a dangerous move, crossing to Mark Druce whose header found Leadbeater but the striker shot just wide. It was Hayes who went closest to scoring as Mark Randall was unlucky to see his venomous drive bounce away off the underside of the bar.

After the break Hereford were much more assertive, forcing seven corners.

Meara brought off a couple of good saves to foil Paul Fewings and substitute Garry Cook. But the general feebleness of United's finishing is becoming worrying. It was left to Moore to give them a lesson in marksmanship.

There was only one United booking Williams for a first half foul.

Hereford: Quy, Lane, Wright, Walker, Boden, Williams, Taylor, Mahon, Fewings, Leadbeater, Druce (Cook 65 minutes). Substitutes not used: James and Downing.