Hereford'S penalty-flick prowess deserted them on Sunday when they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by visiting St Albans after a 1-1 draw in their semi-final of the English Hockey Association Veterans Cup.

In the fourth round of the competition Hereford knocked out Cannock 3-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Their quarter-final against Bournville also ended all square 2-2 and, in a nail-biting finish, Hereford again triumphed 6-5 on penalties to reach the last four for the first time.

The odds of Hereford having to endure the tension of a penalty shoot-out for a third successive tie must have been steep, but that's what faced them in their bid to reach the final.

Home keeper Colin Harwood saved the first flick, only to see his St Albans counterpart follow suit. But, while the visitors scored from their next three flicks, Hereford missed one. So the Saints needed to convert the fifth flick to book a place in the final and their taker made no mistake.

Hereford, the only non-national league club to figure in the semi-finals, had plenty of opportunities to secure victory in normal time as they created most of the chances and dominated play for long periods.

Their first chance fell to Dave Nicholls, whose shot was blocked, while they were unable to cash in on a succession of penalty corners. Steve Alderton then shot wide, while Chris Moody whipped the ball across the face of the goal.

At the other end the home defence, in which Nigel Munday and Marcus Constance were outstanding, restricted St Albans to one penalty corner.

After the interval Hereford continued to make the running with Steve Mumford and Dave Gough winning the midfield battle.

But, in a rare counter attack, Andy Bowskill shot the visitors into the lead.

With eight minutes left the home club's pressure eventually paid off after manager Larry Noble went on as a substitute and saw his shot blocked. The ball bobbled to Moody who diverted it into an empty net.

It was a moment of relief and elation for Hereford but it was St Albans who were doing the celebrating after the penalty-decider.