Hereford recorded their first win in nine matches at Edgar Street by braking Wigan's Nationwide League Third Division championship bid with a revenge win.

Wigan beat Hereford 4- 1 at Springfield Park last November and their team, expensively assembled by Third Division standards, were odds-on favourites to complete a double. But United's confidence had been boosted after ending a run of 15 league and cup games without a victory by winning 1-0 at Cambridge United, another promotion-chasing team.

This time they put away three superbly-taken goals to silence the 507 visiting supporters in the attendance of 2,532. The failure to make good use of scoring chances had cost United dearly this season but on Saturday even Wigan's goalkeeper Lee Butler acclaimed their goals, saying: ''I had a good sight of all three and was at full stretch to try to keep them out. Two were really superb. No one blames me, but it doesn't ease the pain.''

As at Cambridge, Hereford looked more comfortable playing a flat back four and United director of football Graham Turner said: ''Playing an extra man at the back wasn't working so we changed the system. We battled in much the same way as in many other games this season but the difference was that this time we put the ball in the net rather than seeing it hit the woodwork.

''And, as at Cambridge, we had the luxury, for us, of taking the lead and not being in a position of having to chase the game.'' Adrian Foster got United off the mark with his 10th goal of the campaign in the 23rd minute. Keith Downing started the move by quickly pushing a free-kick to Chris Har-greaves who sent Murray Fishlock away on the left. He played a one-two with Adrian Foster who hit the return pass first time into the net and then ran to the home fans, lifting his shirt to show 'Fozzy is back' emblazoned on his vest.

The Latics' response came after just eight more minutes. Roberto Mart-inez floated a free-kick from the left flank for Paul Rogers, an on-loan signing from Notts County, to steal behind the home defence and head past Trevor Wood.

It was Hereford's loan player, Carl Beeston, making his home debut, who restored their lead in the 43rd minute. The Stoke City midfielder seized on an attempted clearance by Charlie Bishop to fire in a 20-yard shot which dipped into the far side-netting. Three minutes into the second period Rogers brought down Adrian Foster 20 yards out and Fishlock curled the free- kick around the wall and past Butler with a fine strike for his first goal of the season.

Midway through the half substitute Kevin Sharp missed a great chance to reduce the deficit but otherwise Hereford retained a firm grip on their two-goal advantage.

Hereford: Wood, Norton, Smith, Matthewson, Fishlock, Warner, Downing, Beeston, Hargreaves, Adrian Foster (Ian Foster 80 mins), Kottila (Brough 74 mins). Sub not used: Pitman.

Attendance: 2,532.