A SPECIAL delivery from 'flying postman' John Williams earned Hereford a point in the Nationwide League Third Division on Saturday.

Former Coventry striker Williams, who earned his nickname from his former profession and his win in a sprint competition for footballers, put his stamp on proceedings in the last minute when he grabbed a somewhat fortuitous equaliser. Williams and Lincoln defender Stuart Bimson were chasing a pass from David Norton towards the goal-line wide on the right. As Bimson tried to allow the ball to go out for a goal kick, Williams swung a leg at it and his effort sailed over goalkeeper Barry Richardson and into the net.

Although it came late in the game, the equaliser was no more than United deserved after fighting back from a goal down to take the lead early in the second half, only for the the Imps to regain the initiative with two more goals of their own. Hereford made two changes from the side which had earned a point at Rochdale, with Keith Downing taking over from the injured Chris Hargreaves and John Brough being preferred to Gary Cook. Brough showed his versatility by slotting in at left-back and allowed Murray Fishlock to push forward on the left side of midfield.

Lincoln had much of the early pressure and took the lead on 11 minutes when Steve Holmes headed in a Bimson corner. Hereford were quickly back into their stride but things were disrupted after 24 minutes when a clash of heads between Kevin Austin and Mika Kottila left the big Finn prostrate on the ground. After prolonged treatment from Hereford physiotherapist Simon Shakeshaft, Kottila was stretchered off and taken to hospital where, thankfully, the injury turned out to be no more serious than concussion.

The arrival of Williams, who substituted, gave the side an extra dimension of pace up front and after 34 minutes the Bulls were back on terms. Rob Warner's long throw was flicked on by Dean Smith for former Lincoln skipper Trevor Matthewson to turn the ball home from close range.

Eleven minutes into the second half Smith notched his 10th goal of the season when he leapt high to head home a Fishlock free-kick but the lead was short-lived with Bimson netting with a free-kick four minutes later at the other end. His kick from the left was angled past Trevor Wood, although Phil Stant claimed afterwards that he had got a touch to help it in. With 16 minutes remaining, Wood did well to block a shot from the lively Gareth Ainsworth but the ball ran to Colin Alcide who had the easy task of putting the Imps back in front. This looked like being the decisive moment until Williams produced his surprise package.

Hereford: Wood, Norton, Fishlock, Smith, Beeston, Matthewson, Brough, Warner (sub Pitman 86 mins), A. Foster, Kottila (sub Williams 28 mins), Downing. Sub not used: Cook.

Attendance: 2,957.