HEREFORD missed out on going top of League Two for the first time this season with a below-par display at Victoria Road tonight.

The Bulls, who have been scoring goals for fun, had an off-night in front of goal and rarely troubled home keeper Tony Roberts.

Hereford were able to report no injury problems and went into the game with an unchanged line-up.

But they threatened only sporadically in the first period although Gary Hooper's neat overhead kick flashed just wide on 10 minutes.

The home side had the better possession after that for a while and missed a great chance to take the lead on 24 minutes.

Ben Strevens got away on the right and dragged the ball back to Danny Foster whose shot clipped a post on the way behind.

Eight minutes before the break, Hereford almost conceded when goalkeeper Wayne Brown failed to deal with a corner-kick.

The stopper's misjudged punch would have ended up in the back of the net but for a goalline clearance by Simon Johnson.

On the stroke of half-time, however, there was no such reprieve for the Bulls.

The visitors' defence made a hash of dealing with a Glen Southam free-kick and the ball fell to Foster who flicked a header into the corner of the net.

Hereford sent on striker Theo Robinson at half-time and piled forward in search of an equaliser.

But serious chances were hard to find and a number of long-range efforts went flashing wide and high.

The best opportunity came on 63 minutes when a swift and incisive move sent Hooper away on the right.

The on-loan striker's drag-back picked out Stephen Gleeson but the midfielder shot badly wide from a great position.

With Hereford on the attack, they almost presented the home side with a second goal.

Brown's dreadful kick went only as far as Jon Nurse who advanced on goal but the keeper redeemed himself with an excellent save.

Hereford continued to attack but it was not to be their night and the home side enjoyed a fourth straight win to boost their chances of beating the drop.

Hereford: Brown; McClenahan, Beckwith, McCombe, Rose; Johnson (Benjamin 78), Smith (Taylor 87), Gleeson, Easton (Robinson 46); MacDonald, Hooper. Subs not used: Ingham, Threlfall.

Attendance: 1,929 (326 from Hereford).

Meanwhile, Bulls striker Marcus Palmer has joined British Gas Business League side Gloucester City on a month's loan.