TWO first-half goals from Chelte-nham old-boy Steve Guinan and a second-half strike from Sam Gwynne put Hereford United back on the winning trail.

The Bulls boss Graham Turner was able to include on-loan goalkeeper Matt Murray for his debut.

But they were weakened by the absence of Richard Rose, who was out with a virus.

Toumani Diagouraga moved to right-back with Stephen O’Leary coming into central midfield.

Andy Williams was moved into attack to replace Bradley Hudson-Odoi, while Gwynne was included on the right of midfield.

Diagouraga, from his unfamiliar right-back position, caused some problems with a dangerous cross in the fifth minute.

Ben Smith got in a header but goalkeeper Shane Higgs was able to collect the ball comfortably.

Hereford took the lead on 15 minutes when Kris Taylor’s cross from the left was only partially cleared and Guinan was on hand to smash a shot past Higgs.

The Edgar Street side drew confidence from the goal and almost added a second nine minutes later when Andy Williams controlled another Taylor cross, turned and fired in a shot which was deflected behind for a corner by Higgs.

The second goal, however, was only delayed by two minutes.

Darren Kenton lost the ball to Gwynne and the midfielder slipped a quick pass to Guinan who rifled a first-time shot from 15 yards.

Matt Murray enjoyed his first taste of real action on 29 minutes, acrobatically tipping over a volley from his namesake Scott.

From the resulting corner, it took a fine tackle by Dean Beckwith to prevent Lloyd Owusu from halving the arrears, then a Scott Murray header drew a regulation save from Matt Murray as Cheltenham continued to press.

Guinan almost completed his hat-trick two minutes into the second period, racing on to another astute pass from Gwynne but driving his shot a yard wide.

The on-loan Wolves stopper saved well from Paul Connor before Hereford added a third on 56 minutes.

Mattt Murray booted the ball down field and with his opposite number Higgs hesitating, Gwynne nipped in to slide home his first league goal.

Murray then pulled off a good save from Robins new boy Elvis Hammond as Cheltenham went after some consolation and then watched as a curling effort from David Bird flashed just wide.

Connor did finally beat the on-loan keeper but his 25-yard drive came back off a post in the 71st minute.

At the other end, O’Leary’s free-kick bent just wide and Clint Easton did the same with a right-foot shot from 20 yards. There was still time, however, for Murray to underline his pedigree with a breathtaking save from Ashley Vincent’s free-kick.

Hereford: Murray; Diagouraga, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Taylor; Gwynne, O’Leary, Smith, Easton; Guinan (Chadwick, 86 min), Williams (Done, 78 min). Subs not used: Samson, Breen, Hudson-Odoi.

Cheltenham: Higgs; Gallinagh (Spencer, 46 min), Kenton, Diallo, Wright; Payne (Vincent, 46 min), Bird, Westlake, Murray; Connor, Owusu (Hammond, 46 min). Subs not used: Brown, Ridley.

Referee: David Phillips (Sussex). Attendance: 3,761.