HEREFORD ended their home programme on a disappointing note when they slipped to a single-goal defeat by local rivals Shrewsbury Town.

But for the Shropshire side, there were altogether different emotions as the victory gave them a great chance of securing a play-off spot.

After the previous week's hammering at Peterborough, Hereford boss Graham Turner made five changes to his starting line-up.

With Steve Guinan having returned to Cheltenham Town, there was a first start for teenager Marcus Palmer who was paired in attack with Tim Sills.

Dean Beckwith returned after suspension to take over from Phil Gulliver in central defence with Luke Webb and Simon Travis recalled to the midfield.

But the changes failed to make any improvement in the Bulls' recent lamentable goal-scoring record as, for the fifth time in the last six home games, United fans did not have a goal of their own to cheer.

United's build-up play was neat, despite the hard and bouncy pitch, and they forced three corners in the first half-hour.

But these all came to nothing and Shrewsbury, who were content to rely on a more direct route to goal, began to threaten more as the interval approached.

On 38 minutes, only an excellent save from Wayne Brown prevented Derek Asamoah from opening the scoring with a deflected drive.

And the United 'keeper was again at his best a minute before the break when he dived to turn away an Andy Cooke shot for a corner.

But, from the resulting flag-kick, Ben Davies picked out Stewart Drummond and the unmarked midfielder powered his header into the corner of the net.

With Andy Williams replacing the ineffective Palmer, Hereford looked a little more lively at the start of the second period and had a golden chance to level the scores on 55 minutes.

Simon Travis tried his luck from 35 yards and his mis-hit effort only reached the un-marked Sills on the edge of the area.

But the former Aldershot marksman, with a great ch-ance to add to his paltry seasonal return of just two goals, snatched at the chance and sent his shot soaring high over the bar.

The dangerous Cooke continued to be a threat for the Shrews, forcing Brown into a good block with a near-post effort from Asamoah's cross and then sending a similar effort from a centre by Neil Ashton narrowly wide of the target.

Hereford had to rely on long-range efforts at goal, none of which seriously tested the Shrewsbury goalkeeper Scott Shearer.

But United did come close to an equaliser three minutes before the end when substitute Alan Connell's 25-yard free-kick deflected off the de-fensive wall to fly narrowly wide.

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, Beckwith, Mkandawire, Purdie; Travis, Webb, Smith, Thomas; Sills (Connell 73), Palmer (Williams 46). Subs not used: Thompson, Gulliver, Jennings. Attendance: 4,359.