A 78th-MINUTE goal from substitute Paul Fewings, his first for the club, put Hereford on the way to their third successive Football Conference win without conceding a goal.

Hereford are proving something of a bogey team to Morecambe, managed by former United midfielder Jimmy Harvey, as they completed a double over them last season.

But there were fears that it was going to be a repeat performance of the Bulls' previous match at Edgar Street when two missed penalties ended in a 1-0 defeat by Hayes.

On Saturday, with the game still goalless, United were awarded a penalty after Fewings had been brought down by David Hall in the 72nd minute. Mark Taylor, who had a spot-kick against Hayes saved, this time sent keeper Steve McIlhargey the wrong way but hammered the ball against an upright.

The Shrimps' skipper Dave McKearney, who had previously been booked for a foul, disputed the decision and was sent off by Chippenham referee Steve Habgood. Last season he also received his marching orders for two bookable offences when United won 5-1 at Morecambe.

Six minutes later, however, Fewings, who substituted for the injured Mark Druce in the 13th minute and had easily his best game since joining the club from Hull City in the close season, dispelled the gloom. He beat McIlh-argey with a close-range shot after John Snape and Gavin Mahon had prised open the defence.

In the 85th minute Richard Walker made it 2-0 to cement United's victory. Chris Lane, playing an unaccustomed midfield role, delivered a splendid centre from the right for the central defender to fire an unstoppable shot out of McIlhargey's reach.

Walker had gone closest to scoring in the first half when he was foiled by a goalline clearance by Paul Rushton. United generally held control and in the second half it took a finger-tip save by McIlhargey to keep out a raking Mahon drive, while the keeper also saved well from Fewings.

Morecambe relied on occasional breakaway raids, in two of which Wayne Curtis and Brian Healy spurned clear cut chances.

United were without first choice strikers Richard Leadbeater, knee injury, and Garry Cook, flu, but Gavin Williams gave good support to Fewings.

There was one Hereford booking, Mahon for a foul. Before the match a minute's silence was observed in memory of United's former physiotherapist Pete Boulton.

Hereford: Quy, Rodgerson, Wright (Evans 46th minute), Walker, Boden, Lane, Taylor, Mahon, Snape, Druce (Fewings 13th minute), Williams. Subs not used: James.