HEREFORD clinched their first away victory since August and moved away from the bottom three after a long week on the road.

The Bulls, without a win in 10 league away matches, had the lead after Tom Owen-Evans ninth minute opener before Jimmy Oates, on his Hereford return doubled their lead.

However, when Kieran Green saw his 73rd minute strike fly through the arms of Matt Yates the game looked back in the balance.

Yates redeemed himself with a host of fine saves before substitute George Lloyd beat the off-side trap and lobbed the goalkeeper to seal the points, despite his side conceding again with the last kick.

“If there was a neutral here and then it would have been an absolute hum-dinger in terms of the chances at both ends and to be honest we road our luck today,” said Hereford Head Coach Marc Richards.

“It wasn’t vintage from us but we didn’t need that today, we just needed to find a way to win.

“I think the boys did that and you know we’ve had couple of chances where we could have killed it off, but they’ve had some chances as well.

“We defended our box really well at times today. I was disappointed to concede a late one at the end which made it a little bit nervy but I’m really pleased with the boys.”

Hereford started well and took a ninth minute lead when Owen-Evans ran through on goal before beating the goalkeeper.

Blyth responded and Matt Yates was forced into a save at a tight angle before Dan Maguire's header was blocked off the line by Jordan Cullinane-Liburd.

Sparans’ stalwart Robert Dale was causing a host of problems and he cut inside and beat Yates only to be denied by a last gasp Harvey Smith block.

The visitors continued to probe and Yates made a save from Maguire before Louis Laing put his free header wide from inside the box,

Maguire started the second half on the front foot and capitalised on a moment of hesitation to run through on goal, but sent his effort over.

Moments later Yates got caught under a cross and Green took advantage, but saw his header cleared off the line.

Richards was forced to make two changes as Kieran Thomas took a blow to his back and was struggling with mobility while Jordan Cullinane-Liburd was struggling with an ankle injury sustained at Guiseley.

The Bulls looked just as likely to increase their one goal lead and Owen-Evans cut back to Mike Symons, who fired over.

Symons had another chance moments later but sent his shot from a tight angle into the side-netting.

On his return Oates doubled Hereford's lead heading home from a corner after 62 minutes.

However, the tie was far from over with Maguire remaining a threat and should have pulled a goal back after controlling inside the box but rifled wide on the turn.

The equaliser did come after 73 minutes when Green strolled through the middle before firing low across the wet surface and through the hands of Yates.

However, just as the hosts pushed for the leveller George Lloyd beat the off-side trap and lobbed the goalkeeper to make it 3-1 with four minutes remaining.

Blyth refused to give in and Yates was forced to tip Adam Wrightson's effort over when the substitute was through on goal.

In the final moment Josh Gowling suffered a defensive blunder firing the ball against his own bar before Bradley Fewster gratefully tapped home

“I’m critical sometimes in terms of what we’ve been working on so I’m looking at the performance because I know over a longer period of time if the performance levels are right you will come out nine times out of 10 with the right result.

“Relying on a little bit of luck isn’t going to work in the long run. Over the course I’ve been here we’ve deserved a bit of luck and we’ve probably got that today.

“I was feeling tired today and didn’t have to play on Tuesday night.

“They’ve obviously looked after themselves really well and that’s the pleasing thing. In the preparation before today they’ve been ultra-professional in everything they’ve done and ultimately that’s had a big part in it today.

“We’ve got to take them four points and build it into Curzon Ashton on Saturday and hopefully make it seven.

“It’s funny how it works as we performed better at Guiseley and not win and not perform as well today and get the right result.

“I’m really pleased. It’s not something I’ve massively thought about but with the club not winning away since August it’s nice to get the monkey off our back.”

Hereford: Yates, Thomas (Wharton 45), Greenslade, Cullinane-Liburd (Finn 67), Smith, Gowling, O'Sullivan (Lloyd 61), Owen-Evans, Richards, Oates, Symons

Subs: Dielna, Roberts