Hereford missed out on a chance to complete their first double of the season when they went down at Leek on Saturday.

Harrison Park, which was under three feet of water during the recent floods, was still heavy and more suited to Leek's style which combined physical power at the back with pace in attack.

But Hereford disappointed their fans by fading out of the game after their more fluent play had seen them go in level at the interval.

Hereford made two changes from the side which drew at Kettering, restoring Mark Druce and Gary Cook to the forward line in place of John Snape (injured) and Richard Leadbeater, and there was chance to renew acquaintances with an old favourite, Tony Agana, who lined up for Leek.

This allowed the opportunity to re-use one of the phrases most overworked in these columns last season, 'Agana limped off injured'. But before he did so, in the 33rd minute, he had made a major contribution. The former Sheffield United striker's header from a Jason Pascoe cross deceived Mark Jones and hit the post for Jeff Parker to net Leek's opener on 19 minutes.

Druce brought United level just two minutes later with a clever lob from the edge of the area to beat home keeper Gary Ingham comprehensively. After that United had much the better of first- half play with Ian Wright and Stuart Evans both going close with headers from Mark Taylor corners.

After the break, however, it was a different story with Hugh McAuley, who substituted for Agana, providing a constant threat.

It was the substitute who restored the home side's advantage five minutes after the interval when he slid home a centre from Neil Ellis and McAuley seemed to have put the game beyond doubt nine minutes from time when he provided the cross for Adie Mike to add a third.

Hereford were then provoked into a late rally and Gavin Williams, who might well have tried for goal himself, made an opening for Taylor who half-volleyed yards over from a great position.

Taylor's free-kick in injury-time allowed Lead-beater to bundle home his fourth goal of the season at the back post and, right at the death, only a brilliant save by Ingham prevented Wright from grabbing what would have been a scarcely deserved point.

Evans and Chris Lane, along with Leek players Pascoe and Gavin O'Toole, were shown yellow cards.

Hereford: Jones, Lane (Parry 86 mins), James, Mahon, Wright, Evans, Williams, Taylor, Druce, Rodgerson, Cook (Leadbeater 70 mins).