Saturday, August 21, 1999.

STRIKER Rob Elmes planted a brace of second-half headers into Kettering Town's net to give Hereford United a 4-2 first victory of the season in the Nationwide Conference at Edgar Street.

Both sides went into the game on the back of two draws in their opening matches -- and at half-time it was Kettering who held the edge with a 2-1 lead.

Home supporters were left somewhat despondent as Hereford had also suffered a pre-match setback when ace marksman Steve Piearce pulled out with a hamstring injury.

But in a barn-storming second period performance Elmes took over the role of goal-poacher from his former Halesowen Town colleague Piearce.

It was Gavin Williams who sparked off the resurgence however, after a hectic scramble in the Poppies' goal area following Matt Fisher's misplaced intended back-pass to goalkeeper Adam Sollitt.

Williams pounced on the error and lashed a vicious narrow angled shot into the far top corner of the net.

Nine minutes later Williams became goal provider when his left-wing cross was flicked on by skipper and central defender Ian Wright to Elmes who headed the ball past Solitt's to put United ahead.

The Bulls continued to charge forward and in the 85th minute the deadly Williams -- Elmes combination struck again.

This time the big striker headed past Sollit with fellow striker Leroy May chasing the ball into the net.

Part-timer Elmes, a teacher of German and Physical Education at a Sutton Coldfield school, said: "Playing down the slope in the second-half I was confident we would win.

"It was just a matter of time before the goals game."

Hereford had made a bright start playing towards the Blackfriars Street end.

In the ninth minute Wright, last season's top scorer opened his account this term with a looping header from Mark Taylor's corner.

Within four minutes, however, Wright and goalkeeper Andy Quy left it to each other to deal with a through ball from Wayne Duke and Sam Banya punished the hesitancy by rounding Quy to tap in the equaliser.

This fired up Kettering and in the 31st minute Fisher headed in a Craig Norman cross from close range.

Then it took a brilliant save by Quy to deny Brett McNamara another goal.

Delighted Hereford Director of Football Graham Turner said: "After they equalised we were out of the game for half an hour.

"But in the second-half we showed imagination and resilience, working the ball well in most areas.

"It was a good days work by the players."

There were three bookings for Hereford players -- Paul Sturgess, John Snape and Elmes.

Hereford: Quy 7, Clarke 8, Sturgess 7, Rodgerson 7, Wright 8, James 7, Williams 9, Taylor 7, Elmes 8, Hanson 7 (May 73), Snape.

Subs (not used): Lane, Jones, Wall and Cotterill.

Star Man: Gavin Williams.

Attendance: 1,980.