A 68th-MINUTE goal by veteran striker Tony Agana was enough to stretch Hereford's unbeaten run in the Vauxhall Conference to seven matches at the expense of bottom team Gateshead.

Saturday's performance was by no means their best in that sequence but they made sure of collecting the three points by keeping a blank sheet for the sixth match on the trot.

Gateshead have not won an away Conference game this season but, even so, they created more chances than has been the case with United's other recent opponents. United director of football Graham Turner admitted: ''Although we were good in some areas, overall we did not play particularly well and they missed a few chances. '' But he added: ''Perhaps, we are having a little of the luck we were not getting at the start of the season.''

Turner had to make two changes from the side which beat Northwich Victoria 2-0 in their previous outing. Richard Leadbeater cried off with an ankle injury so Gary Cook spearheaded the attack alongside Agana, while Rob Warner replaced the suspended Chris Hargreaves in midfield. Skipper Brian McCorry sent a swirling free-kick just past Gateshead's far post in the fourth minute but the Tynesiders' hefty defenders then formed a solid barricade in front of keeper Dean Williams.

The Bulls continued to hold the majority of possession until the 28th minute when it took a superb diving save by Andy Quy to keep out Paul Proudlock's header. Six minutes later Nick Peverell looked to have a simple chance to put the Tynesiders in front but he headed wide. At the other end Rob Warner had a goal-bound shot diverted for a corner by Mark Scott. Warner won the challenge for McGorry's flag-kick, only to be out of luck again as Tony Hall blocked his header and Williams completed the clearance.

After the break Proudlock and Peverell both squandered reasonable chances for Gateshead before United broke the deadlock. McGorry instigated the move by sending Ian Rodgerson away on the right.

The right-back rounded a defender before crossing to Agana who sent a looping header past Williams' outstretched hand for his sixth goal of the season.

Williams then did well to push Murray Fishlock's angled drive behind and in the 76th minute Rodgerson had the chance to score himself. He cleverly beat Ord but, when the ball fell to his left foot, he lofted his shot over the top. In the final minute Proudlock, after being yellow-carded for dissent, fouled McGorry immediately afterwards and was promptly sent off by Wolverhampton referee Steve French.

Hereford: Quy, Rodgerson, Brough, Matthewson, Fishlock, Pitman, McGorry, Mahon, Warner, Agana, Cook. Subs not used: Mansell, Williams, Hill.

Attendance: 2,007.