HEREFORD United completed their third double of the Conference season but were made to fight all the way by a battling Aldershot side who came close to snatching a point in the closing stages.

The Bulls dominated the first period and goals from teenagers Andy Williams and Stuart Fleetwood put them firmly in command.

But the 'Shots', with the wind behind them in the second-half, pulled a goal back through Gary Holloway who was then denied in injury time by an excellent save from Wayne Brown.

Hereford got off to an excellent start with a goal after just three minutes.

Fleetwood raced away on the left and his cross was controlled at the near post by Williams who then shot almost in the same movement to give goalkeeper Nikki Bull no chance.

It should have been two four minutes later when Daryl Taylor somehow missed the target from Nicky Nicolau's cross with only Bull to beat.

There was plenty of good football to enjoy at both ends but it was Hereford who continued to look the more threatening. It was no surprise when they extended their lead on 28 minutes.

This time it was an excellent individual effort by Fleetwood who raced past Lewis Hamilton before slipping the ball past Bull.

The Aldershot goalkeeper redeemed himself four minutes before the break, though, with a brilliant save from Tamika Mkandawire's header from Fleetwood's cross.

On the hour, Aldershot pulled a goal back thanks to some sloppy Hereford defending.

Ryan Williams's deep cross was prodded back into the centre by Hassan Sulaiman and Holloway's diving header thundered the ball into the net.

Andy Williams might have done better when he cracked a shot just wide from Fleetwood's pass and Mkandawire headed a Rob Purdie cross against the bar.

But Aldershot always threatened and only Brown's excellent late save preserved the points for the Edgar Street club.

Aldershot's Greg Heald was the only player to receive a card when he was shown yellow for a 71st minute foul.

Hereford: Brown, Green, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Travis, Taylor (Purdie, 67 min), Stanley, Ferrell, Nicolau, Williams, Fleetwood. Subs not used: Mawson, Holliday, Carey-Bertram, Gwynne.

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

Attendance: 2,205.