Hereford United 1 Carlisle United 0.

ANDY Williams strike on the hour brought Hereford a welcome win and lifted the Bulls off the foot of the League 1 table.

Hereford boss Graham Turner named an unchanged team following the goalless draw at Brighton.

This means a home seasonal debut for Sam Gwynne, who would operate on the right of the midfield quartet.

Carlisle applied early pressure and leading scorer Danny Graham found some space in the penalty area.

Hereford keeper Darren Randolph was alert to the danger, however, and raced off his line to block the shot.

To underline his threat, Graham blasted a shot wide from the edge of the area shortly afterwards.

The Bulls took some time to threaten but Andy Williams was only a yard short of reaching Toumani Diagouraga’s through ball.

Danny Carlton and Graham Kavanagh both shot wide from the edge of the area before the visitors had another good chance on the half-hour.

Carlton raced past Randolph but his angled shot was cleared off the line by skipper Karl Broadhurst.

Clint Easton shot high over for Hereford following a swift break before another good challenge by Broadhurst prevented Carlton from breaking clear.

Four minutes before the interval, Carlisle keeper Ben Alnwick had to make his first real save, diving to push away Williams’ 30-yard drive.

Hereford showed much more urgency at the start of the second period.

Richard Rose headed over from an Easton corner and then Bruno N’Gotty surged forward before firing in a low drive which was comfortably held by Alnwick.

Another powerful run by N’Gotty forced the corner which brought the opening goal.

Easton’s flag-kick was headed out as far as Williams who cracked in a right-foot drive from 15 yards.

Shortly afterwards, good work by Sam Gwynne set up another chance for Williams whose low drive was blocked by Alnwick’s feet.

After 77 minutes, Carlisle were reduced to 10 men when defender Graham Keogh was dismissed for swinging an elbow at Guinan.

Hereford tried hard to maintain their grip but survived one anxious moment when Scott Dobie’s shot deflected off Broadhurst and went through to Randolph.

Then Jennison Myrie-Williams blasted a shot into the side-netting from the edge of the area.

Hereford had to survive a few more anxious moments but held on for the three points.

Hereford: Randolph; Jackson, Broadhurst, N’Gotty, Rose; Gwynne, Taylor, Diagouraga, Easton; Williams (Hudson-Odoi, 90 min), Guinan. Subs not used: Samson, Beckwith, Smith, Chadwick.

Carlisle: Alnwick, Raven, Livesy, Graham (Myrie-Williams, 74 min), Carlton, Joyce, Taylor, Hackney (Dobie, 64 min), Keogh, Campion, Kavanagh. Subs not used: Williams, Smith, Gowling.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Attendance: 2,300 (174 from Carlisle).

Goals: Williams, 60 min, 1-0; Red card: Carlisle – Keogh, 77 min, use of elbow.

Yellow card: Hereford – Guinan, foul, 77 min.