Hereford United travel to Leigh RMI on Saturday knowing that even a win may not be enough to keep their Nationwide Conference Championship hopes alive.

Chester's goalless draw at Shrewsbury on Tuesday now means that three points against Scarborough at the Deva Stadium on Saturday would be enough to secure the title for the Cheshire side.

Hereford can, of course, hope that Scarborough will snatch at least a point. The Seadogs showed earlier this season that they can cause problems for better sides with a run which took them to the fourth round of the FA Cup and a narrow defeat by Chelsea.

But a draw may be optimistic given that the trip to Cheshire will bring Scarborough's fourth game in eight days, a punishing schedule after an arduous season.

Set against that, the likely absence of Chester's leading scorer Daryl Clare with a thigh injury, does give United cause for a little optimism.

The Bulls themselves must go all-out for success at Hilton Park in the expectation that a United win and a Chester draw or loss would see the title settled with Chester's visit to Edgar Street on Saturday week. That scenario would require United to secure a final day win to take the title.

At the moment, Hereford must feel that anything is possible after a run which has seen them extend their winning streak to 10 games in all competitions.

With 13 away successes already this season, they have surpassed even the glories of the Division 3 title-winning side back in 1975-6 who won 12 times on their travels.

And after scoring 96 Conference goals this season, the record of 103 - held by Barnet - is still in the free-scoring Bulls' sights.

Hereford will know, however, that victory from Saturday's trip to already-relegated Leigh is far from being a foregone conclusion.

The Railwaymen produced one of the season's more surprising results when they left Edgar Street in November with a 1-0 win and in David McNiven they have one of the Conference's most dangerous marksmen.

Hereford's squad will be strengthened on Saturday by the return of full-back Michael Rose who was suspended for the two Easter weekend victories.

Match reports:

Sports Times 5 & 6