Hereford will not look back with much pleasure on their first Nationwide Conference trip to Victoria Road after letting slip a first-half lead on Saturday, writes RICHARD PRIME.

The Bulls dominated the game for the first 25 minutes but failed to capitalise on Gavin Williams' superb 12th-minute strike and fell away badly to extend their run without a win to four games.

Hereford began the game with the side which started the season so successfully when Ian Rodgerson reported fit after his calf injury and Robin Elmes resumed in attack in place of Kerry Giddings (flu).

And in the early stages it seemed as if normal service had been resumed with United ascendant right from the kick-off.

Williams' mazy run ended with a poorly hit shot but the youngster soon went close again, volleying wide after a fine move involving Chris Lane, Elmes and Rodgerson.

Then, only a timely clearance from Steve Heffer saved the day for Dagenham when Michael McIndoe closed in on a Rodgerson cross.

On 12 minutes, John Snape hit a long ball into the corner and McIndoe seized on Lee Matthews' attempted clearance. The former Luton youngster slipped a pass to Williams who let fly from the edge of the area with a right-footed effort which rocketed past Tony Roberts and into the net.

Hereford should have extended their lead on 38 minutes after more good work by McIndoe. The midfielder found some space on the right and crossed for Elmes at the far post. But the schoolteacher headed over from a good position.

The seriousness of this latest miss soon became apparent a minute before the break. Goalkeeper Scott Cooksey failed to gather a header from Drewe Broughton and Paul Terry notched the equaliser from close range.

The situation could easily have been worse in injury time when Cooksey blocked a long-range effort from Mark Brennan straight to the feet of Terry. But this time the midfielder, with plenty of time to pick his spot, directed a shot wide of the post.

Dagenham continued to have the better of play after the break but failed to capitalise on their domination until the 72nd minute when full-back Tim Cole eluded the Hereford defence at the far post to bullet a header from Brennan's corner past Cooksey.

Despite the introduction of substitutes Craig Hanson and Steve Piearce, Hereford were unable to respond and it was Dagenham who looked the likelier scorers in the closing stages.

Hereford's Matt Clarke picked up a second-half caution for a foul.

Hereford: Cooksey, Lane, Clarke, Robinson (Hanson 64 mins), Wright, James, Rodgerson (Piearce 77 mins), Snape, Elmes, Williams, McIndoe. Subs not used: Wall, Gardiner, Baker.

Dagenham: Roberts, Cole, Broom, Terry, Matthews, Brennan, Janney (Payne 63 mins), Heffer, Broughton (Keen 89 mins), McDougald (Cobb 82 mins), Jones. Subs not used: Vickers, Haworth.

Referee: A Wilkins (Kent).

Attendance: 1,410.