TWO goals in as many minutes ensured that Hereford wiped away memories of a winless December in the Nationwide Conference with a New Year's Day victory at Edgar Street.

The quick-fire double strike inside the first 11 minutes of the second half, courtesy of Chris Lane and Rob Elmes, provided a revenge win for the hosts, who were beaten 2-1 at the Deva Stadium on Boxing Day.

It was an oasis of action in an otherwise tepid match, but that will not have concerned United, who remain in fourth position.

Lane put the Bulls' penalty jinx to rest with his second successful spot-kick in succession in the 54th minute, while Elmes headed home the second goal moments later.

However, following a luckless first half, it had appeared that Hereford were again destined to fall foul of the bad fortune in front of goal which has dogged them throughout the season, particularly at Edgar Street.

Chester pair Chris Blackburn and Scott Ruscoe traded early long-range efforts with home midfielder John Snape before the Bulls' top marksman, Gavin Williams, came close in the 11th minute.

The young striker, whose goal-scoring touch has deserted him somewhat in recent matches, profited from a good ball from Lane and dinked an early looping header goalwards.

City keeper Wayne Brown looked beaten but somehow scrambled back to fingertip the ball away via the outside of his near post.

And from the resulting corner, taken by Michael McIndoe, home skipper Ian Wright was thwarted when his back-post shot was blocked on the line by Blues defender Matt Doughty.

Brown, who was in solid form throughout the first half, came to his side's rescue again on 31 minutes through a smart save with his legs after a well-timed through ball from Hereford player-coach Phil Robinson had released Williams.

The remainder of the half fizzled out and it was not until the 54th minute that the game exploded into life once again. Chester substitute Darren Moss, who had been on the field less than 10 minutes, felled the ever-dangerous Williams as he embarked on a tricky run inside the visitors' box and Kingstone official Andy Williams had little hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Lane, who ended the Bulls' penalty blues with a successful spot-kick at Chester on Boxing Day, again made no mistake with a perfectly placed strike into the bottom left-hand corner of Brown's net.

And before City could regroup, Elmes put the finishing touch to a 56th-minute corner from McIndoe with a stooping header at the near post, which left Brown with no chance.

Hereford: Cooksey, Lane, Sturgess, Robinson, Wright, Wall, Clarke, Snape, Elmes, Williams McIndoe. Subs not used: Quiggin, Baker, Gardiner, Giddings, Rodgerson.

Chester: Brown, Fisher, Doughty, Lancaster, Ruffer, P Beesley, Carden, Blackburn, M Beesley (Moss 45 mins), Whitehall, Ruscoe (Wright 84 mins). Subs not used: Woodyat, Kerr, Berry.

Referee: A Williams (Kingstone).

Attendance: 2,321.

Hereford's match at Southport fell victim to the weather on Saturday when there was also a wipeout of most sporting events in the county.