MICHAEL McIndoe missed a penalty as Hereford were dumped out of the Nationwide Variety Club Trophy in the second round with their first defeat at Edgar Street this season on Tuesday.

The former Luton Town midfielder hit a post with his spot-kick on the half-hour after Town's Matt Fisher halted Craig Hanson's diagonal run into the area and sent him tumbling.

And Carl Adams rubbed in the Bulls' third consecutive penalty miss when he picked himself up and scored from the spot, following a foul by Phil Robinson, after 50 minutes.

United had their chances to set up an away tie with Yeovil Town in the next round, but all five Bulls strikers who made an appearance, including home debutants Jimmy Quinn and Jimmy Quiggin, failed to find the net.

Former Northern Ireland international Quinn looked strong in the air and fit for a man who will celebrate his 41st birthday next month, while the diminutive Quiggin was impressively lively and nippy, but lacked polished finishing.

Kettering could have been in front after just two minutes when Steve Wilkinson latched onto a woefully short back pass from Tony James, but the experienced striker shot wide with only keeper Scott Cooksey to beat.

Chris Lane provided the first test for visiting keeper Ian Bowling through a rasping 35-yard volley but the Town stopper got down well to thwart the Bulls' right-back.

Adams went close after 25 minutes when he turned and shot, only to be matched by Cooksey with a smart save.

Quiggin then squandered a gilt-edged opportunity, probably Hereford's best of the match, when he fired over from Quinn's back-post knock down after a deep cross from Paul Parry, back in his favoured left-wing slot.

However, McIndoe was unsuccessful with his penalty four minutes later and, with little action to speak of in between, Adams gave Kettering the upper hand when he made no mistakes from the spot.

Parry should have levelled on 67 minutes after indecision in the visiting defence.

But it was Kettering substitute Lee Hudson who came closest to finding the net with a diving header over the bar with two minutes remaining.

Hereford: Cooksey, Lane, Clarke, Robinson (Wall 53 mins), Wright, James, Parry, Hanson (Elmes 64 mins), Quinn (Giddings 64 mins), Quiggin, McIndoe. Subs not used: Baker, Gardiner.

Kettering: Bowling, Matthews, Cowling, Perkins, Vowden, McNamara, Fisher, Brown, Wilkinson (Hudson 78 mins), Watkins (Duik 84 mins), Adams. Subs not used: Murfin, Lee, Wilson.

Referee: R Lewis (Shrewsbury).

Attendance: 604.