IT'S all to play for at Edgar Street on Friday after the Conference play-off semi-final at Broadhall Way ended all-square yesterday.

A wonder strike from Danny Carey-Bertram after 75 minutes looked to have given Hereford the advantage into the second leg until Dino Maamria headed the home side level three minutes from time.

Graham Turner named Simon Travis on the right of the midfield and, with Graham Hyde unwell, Jamie Pitman and Craig Stanley were in the engine room.

Lee Mills' extra physical presence earned him the nod over Carey-Bertram as Adam Stansfield's strike partner.

Stevenage, with the powerful Anthony Elding and Darryn Stamp in attack, made their presence felt early on.

Both players put headers just off target but Hereford had their moments as well, notably when some excellent work by Rob Purdie ended with a good turn and shot by Mills that narrowly cleared the bar.

The home side, however, continued to press forward and Craig Mawson did well to hold a low shot from Danny Bulman before diving to grasp Stamp's hooked shot from the edge of the area.

Elding drove a low shot narrowly past an upright seven minutes from the break but Hereford's strong defence coped with the pressure.

After the break, Hereford pushed forward quickly and should have taken the lead with just two minutes of the half played.

Home 'keeper Alan Julian struggled to deal with Ryan Green's cross under pressure from Stansfield and the ball reached Purdie on the edge of the area. But the midfielder snatched at his shot to send the ball sailing over the bar.

Mawson then saved twice from Brady and held a shot from Justin Gregory before Hereford took the lead in spectacular style.

Carey-Bertram, who had replaced Mills after 66 minutes, brought a pass from Mark Robinson under control 25 yards from goal.

The substitute turned and advanced a couple of yards before thundering a superb right-foot drive past the helpless Julian.

The goal momentarily stunned the home side but they quickly came roaring back with Elding's flashing 20-yarder going narrowly wide.

Then, three minutes from the end, Michael Warner made ground down the right and delivered an excellent cross which Maamria came racing through from midfield to head home.

With time running out, George Boyd blasted into the side-netting after Mawson's clearance had hit Elding.

But as the seconds disappeared, neither side were able to make the breakthrough to leave the tie intriguingly poised for the second leg.

Hereford: Mawson 7, Green 6, Mkandawire 7, Tretton 7, *Robinson 8, Travis 6 (D Williams 80), Pitman 6, Stanley 7, Purdie 6, Stansfield 6 (James 90), Mills 6 (Carey-Bertram 66). Subs not used: Scott, L Williams.

Attendance: 6,520.