HALF-TIME substitute Rob Elmes inspired Hereford to a superlative victory after an excellent second-half comeback in the Nationwide Conference on Saturday.

United were derided by their own fans at half-time after an appalling performance in the first period which saw Dover go two goals up within the opening eight minutes.

But the arrival of Elmes catalysed a splendid recovery and the big striker was instrumental in all four goals, netting two himself, as the Bulls charged back into the encounter.

The home supporters, who gave their side a standing ovation at the end of a thrilling match, were not so pleased when Neil Le Bihan took advantage of a free header in the Hereford area after just six minutes.

Anthony Hogg collected Tony Browne's quick throw and whipped the ball to the unmarked Le Bihan at the back post and he duly nodded home his first goal of the season.

And before United could regroup, Le Bihan struck again with a sucker punch which put the reeling Bulls firmly on the ropes.

Gritty midfielder John Snape failed to clear from Steve Norman's corner and Le Bihan rifled the ball past keeper Scott Cooksey from eight yards.

The Whites' Matt Carruthers should have put the game beyond Hereford after 17 minutes, but, when he went clear, Cooksey clasped onto the ball as the Dover man attempted to round him.

United followers buried their heads even further into their hands six minutes later following a penalty, awarded when Bulls skipper Ian Wright was tugged to the ground by Lee Shearer.

Experienced ex-Northern Ireland striker Jimmy Quinn fired the spot-kick comfortably wide of Dover keeper Paul Hyde's right-hand upright - Hereford's fourth penalty miss in five matches.

But after a first half showing which he described as 'absolute garbage', Bulls boss Graham Turner pulled off a masterstroke of a double substitution with the introduction of Elmes and Tony James.

Within eight minutes of second half action, Hereford were level. Barely 30 seconds had elapsed when Elmes flicked on a cross from Lane and Matt Clarke claimed his first ever goal for Hereford with an unstoppable shot at the back post.

And Elmes assisted with United's equaliser when he glanced Clarke's long throw into the path of Wright, who stabbed the ball home from five yards on 53 minutes.

There was barely time to kick-off again before Elmes met a cross from McIndoe and crashed a header past Hyde and in off a post.

Elmes made it four after 63 minutes when he arrived at the back post to turn home a centre from Lane after a good run and lay back from Gavin Williams.

Ian Rodgerson was thwarted soon afterwards by a great stop at point blank range from Hyde and Cooksey did likewise when Carruthers burst into the United box deep into stoppage time and should have claimed a consolation goal

Hereford: Cooksey, Lane, Clarke, Robinson, Wright, Gardiner (James 46 mins), Rodgerson, Snape, Quinn (Elmes 46 mins), Williams, McIndoe. Subs not used: Baker, Hanson, Quiggin.

Dover: Hyde, Browne, Norman, Darcy, Shearer, Beard, Carruthers, Le Bihan, Vansittart (Godden 84 mins), Strouts (Moore 84 mins), Hogg (McRobert 68 mins). Sub not used: Hudson.

Attendance: 1,903.

Referee: K Pike (Gillingham, Dorset).