HEREFORD shook off their away-day blues at the National Hockey Stadium and at last brought to an end their run of four away defeats.

The Bulls finally showed some of their promotion form with some swift breaks out of defence and fine defending of their own to come home with the points.

Alan Connell's early goal was added to by Rob Purdie's confident penalty and, after surviving some heavy home pressure, Stuart Fleetwood's injury-time strike sealed the win.

Hereford were without injured Simon Travis, Martyn Giles and Tim Sills and lost Trent McClenahan with a knee problem after just 18 minutes to make their victory all the more meritorious.

Hereford had a good early chance when the lively Fleetwood cut in from the edge of the area and fired in a shot which was parried by goalkeeper Adolfo Baines.

Fleetwood picked up the rebound but drove weakly straight at the 'keeper.

The Bulls did not have to wait long for the opener, however, and Fleetwood was again at the heart of the action.

The young striker surged from the half-way line and reached the edge of the area before letting fly. Baines again parried the effort but only as far as Connell who rammed the ball home.

McClenahan had to leave the field shortly afterwards but United quickly had to be grateful that his replacement was Purdie.

United's spot-kick ace was called into the action just two minutes after his arrival when Baines body-checked Andy Williams and referee Darren Deadman had no alternative but to give a penalty.

Purdie drove the kick into the corner of the net, his seventh successful conversion this season.

Shell-shocked Dons took a while to get into their stride but then piled forward with attack after attack.

But it was Hereford who spurned the best opening six minutes before the break when Purdie and Connell combined to release Fleetwood who rounded Baines but found the angle too tight and fired into the side-netting.

Hereford continued to soak up pressure after the break but the seemingly inevitable Dons goal arrived 13 minutes into the second period.

Izale McLeod, the subject of a £1million bid from Peterb-orough last week, seized on some hesitancy by Dean Beckwith to fire into the corner of the net.

Purdie's flying goal-line clearance prevented Drissa Diallo from levelling on 71 minutes and United's defence was kept at full stretch by the powerful Dons attack.

But, with the hosts pushing forward, Hereford began to have their moments on the break and Williams raced on to Purdie's long pass and surged forward before bringing a fine save from Baines.

And, in injury-time, Fleet-wood capped his lively performance by cutting in from the left and driving his first goal since August into the corner of Baines' net.

Hereford: Brown; Mkandawire, Gulliver, Beckwith; McClenahan (Purdie 18), Rose, Eustace, Jeannin; Connell; Fleetwood, Williams. Subs not used: Thompson, Ferrell, Wallis, Webb.

Attendance: 5,609.