A CONTROVERSIAL piece of refereeing helped Walsall to complete a double over brave Hereford and move three points closer to automatic promotion from League Two.

A tussle on the edge of the area which seemed to almost everyone else on the ground to be six-of-one and half-a-dozen of the other between Hereford's Dean Beckwith and the home side's Trevor Benjamin was deemed a foul by Beckwith by referee Gary Sutton.

The Lincolnshire official then showed a straight red card to Beckwith, presumably for a professional foul.

Up to then, it was Hereford who had played the better football with the home side creating few chances.

But, within two minutes of Beckwith's dismissal, the Sa-ddlers grabbed the crucial goal when Dean Keates fired home after Bulls 'keeper Wayne Brown could only parry a drive by Darren Wrack.

Hereford were able to announce an unchanged team but Stuart Fleetwood took over from the suspended Tim Sills on the substitutes' bench.

In the first period, it was Hereford who had rather the better of the play.

Walsall, however, had the first chance of the match when a low shot by Kevin Harper was pushed away brilliantly for a corner by Brown.

After that, Hereford pressed forward well with frequent good work on the left by Danny Thomas.

From one good move in the 13th minute, Luke Webb headed a Thomas cross wide from a good position and Thomas delivered another good ball in for Alan Connell to again nod wide.

On 24 minutes, Brown parried away a cross-shot from Trevor Benjamin with Michael Dobson putting the rebound wide.

But Hereford were soon back on the attack and Connell rattled the post after Andy Williams' cross from the right had been returned to the centre by Thomas.

The Bulls kept pressing up to the break with Williams and Webb both sending good efforts narrowly wide.

After the interval, Hereford continued to use the good surface to produce some fine football but were unable to prise an opening.

Their best effort came from Williams, who blasted a volley straight at Clayton Ince following a good pass from Connell.

The clinching goal was seriously rough justice on Hereford but the Bulls must be worried by their goalless streak which now stretches back six games to March 3.

Hereford: Brown; Travis, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Purdie; Williams (Fleetwood 77), Smith, Webb, Thomas; Guinan, Connell (Rose 80). Subs not used: Thompson, Palmer, Jennings.

Attendance: 5,658.