HEREFORD fought back twice to level before Aaron Webster’s header three minutes from the end sealed the points for the Brewers.

Home-side debutant Kyle Cadogan forced a smart save from Adam Bartlett inside the first three minutes as Burton made a strong start.

The Bulls took some time to get established under the early home barrage but gradually began to put some passes together in midfield.

Burton continued to look the stronger side in attack, however, and Shaun Harrad’s header from an Aaron Webster cross was fielded by Bartlett.

The Bulls keeper then had to dive on 18 minutes to hold another Cadogan drive.

Harrad’s dangerous cross, five minutes later, was cleared by Keith Lowe as it flashed through the penalty area.

At the other end, Bulls strikers Leon Constantine and Gavin McCallum struggled to get the better of former Hereford man Tony James who won everything in the air.

Bartlett stooped to field a long-range drive by Jimmy Phillips as chances at either end continued to be rare. Hereford, though, suddenly sparked to life after 35 minutes and Craig King fed Ryan Valentine who delivered a cross to McCallum, whose header was blocked.

The striker’s follow-up effort drew a good save from keeper Artur Krysiak.

Constantine then drilled a shot wide before a last-ditch tackle by Webster denied McCallum at the expense of a corner after the young striker had rounded Krysiak.

Constantine’s header was blocked and Valentine lifted a shot over as Hereford’s good spell continued. But their failure to take advantage with a goal was almost punished when Bartlett pulled off an excellent save at the feet of Michael Simpson.

Hereford struck back, though, with another good move which ended with McCallum shooting just over.

Hereford made a promising opening to the second period and King warmed Krysiak’s hands with a well-struck shot from 20 yards. In the 50th minute, however, a long ball forward found Harrad in yards of space and he still had time to evade two defenders before beating Bartlett.

The visitors were fortunate to avoid conceding a second when Cadogan’s cross was cleared by a last-ditch effort at the expense of a corner. Hereford equalised on 61 minutes when McCallum showed superb touch to bring down a long ball, round Guy Branston and cross for Constantine to head home.

Hereford were level for just two minutes though as Constantine’s hero role was quickly reversed. The tall striker was unable to get out of the way of Webster’s header and his handball was punished with a penalty which Harrad converted.

Constantine restored his status in the 77th minute when he was in the right place again to head in when Valentine delivered the ball back after Kenny Lunt’s cross had opened up the Burton defence.

But the game slipped away from the Bulls three minutes from the end when Webster sneaked forward to head in a free-kick after the Bulls defence failed to pick him up.

In injury-time, Jones’ long-range effort was turned away for a corner and, from Marc Pugh’s flag-kick, Richard Rose headed wide with the goal gaping.

Hereford: Bartlett, Rose, Jones, Blanchett, Lowe (Done, 90), Lunt, Sonko, Valentine (Pugh, 90); King, Constantine, McCallum. Not used: Adamson, Dennehy, Gwynne, Godsmark, Marshall.

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).

Attendance: 2,796.