Hereford'S expectations of another epic FA Cup run were brought to a summary end by a United old boy in the fourth qualifying round at Kingfield on Saturday.

Jamie Pitman, who was hardly noted for his goal-scoring, let alone his heading ability, during three seasons at Edgar Street, popped up after 30 minutes to power a header from Matt Hayfield's cross past Scott Cooksey.

The blonde-haired midfielder was constantly in the thick of the action and it was his original pass to Hayfield which set the goal-scoring move in motion.

It was not a day which will be remembered fondly by the several hundred Bulls fans who received a drenching from some foul weather on the uncovered terraces.

The pitch, which was sodden after heavy morning rain, was made even wetter when a torrential driving storm set in from the middle of the first-half. And the downpour was whipped up by a gale-force wind; all of which made attempts to play good football a lost hope.

Hereford, with Gavin Williams suspended and Jimmy Quinn and James Quiggin cup-tied, recalled Robin Elmes and Kerry Giddings to lead the attack.

It was Sutton Coldfield schoolmaster Elmes who got in the first effort on goal after 12 minutes when his overhead flick from Michael McIndoe's cross crept narrowly past the post.

Despite playing into the teeth of the gale in the first half, Chris Lane still managed to get plenty of power behind his 19th minute pile-driver, but at the other end Scott Steele went even closer with a volley which just cleared the bar.

After Pitman's goal, Scott Cooksey did well to divert a shot from Shane Wye around a post, but, when United responded, Giddings also found himself foiled by Cards' keeper Vince Matassa after a fine run and shot.

At half-time the general consensus seemed to be that one goal would not be enough but, even with the wind, Hereford failed to carved out scoring chances in spite of having by far the majority of the play.

The best chance fell to substitute Steve Piearce who broke away almost from the half-way line and showed good pace to get clear of the defenders. But although his shot was directed toward the bottom corner of the net, Matassa got down well to turn the effort round the upright.

Hereford: Cooksey, Lane, Clarke, Robinson, Wright, James, Rodgerson, Snape (Hanson 81 mins), Elmes, Giddings (Piearce 75 mins), McIndoe. Subs not used: Baker, Gardiner, Wall.

Woking: Matassa, Wye, Hollingdale, West, Smith, Pitman, Hayfield, Roddis, Steele, Perkins, Teague (Watson 75 mins). Subs not used: Brown, Alighieri, Kamara-Taylor, Graham.

Referee: M Yerby (Ashford).

Attendance: 2,076.