A GOAL in each from livewire strike pair Gavin Williams and Rob Elmes ensured Hereford an FA Umbro Trophy fifth round spot at Morecambe this Saturday.

The first game with Leigh had ended goalless and another tough and bruising encounter in Tuesday's replay saw defences on top before the Bulls duo finally ended RMI's brave resistance.

Manager Graham Turner was delighted with the way his side had responded to the criticism following the disappointing 1-1 draw at Nuneaton.

"We dominated the game for long periods and there were several good individual performances," he said. "But what pleased me most of all was that we played as a team.

"There were harsh words after the way we defended at Nuneaton but the players responded to the challenge thrown at them and came away with a victory in a very awkward game."

Williams had been a constant thorn in the Leigh defence and it was only fitting that he should break the stalemate with a terrific finish in the 41st minute. Elmes fed him the ball after Iain Swan's miss-timed clearance fell at the feet of the striker.

Elmes could have grabbed a second a minute later when he thundered in a short-range volley which the keeper did well to save.

United withstood an early second-half assault and gradually took a grip on midfield where John Snape was particularly effective. The RMI strikers missed a couple of chances to get back on level terms and Hereford made them pay 11 minutes from time when Ian Rodgerson's inswinging corner found Elmes unmarked at the far post and he nodded it home off the woodwork.

Leigh threw everything at United in the dying minutes and finally managed to unlock their defence three minutes from time when Tony Black raced onto Neil Durkin's lovely through ball and unleashed a rocket shot that gave the keeper no chance. But it was too little too late to worry Turner's side.

Hereford: Cooksey, Clarke, Sturgess, Robinson, James, Wall, Quiggin, Snape, Elmes, Williams, Rodgerson. Subs: Gardiner, Baker, Moran, Shirley, Bull.

Attendance: 452.

l Hereford's home Nationwide Conference match with Woking, postponed due to FA Umbro Trophy commitments, has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 6, kick-off 7.45pm. And the Conference match at Southport, called off due to bad weather, will now be played on Tuesday, March 27, kick-off 7.45pm.