A CROWD of 3,138 - the best for a first match of the season at Edgar Street since 1990-91 - turned up expecting Hereford to mark their debut in the GM Vauxhall Conference by establishing their title-winning credentials with an impressive win on Saturday.

But Welling, who finished 18th in the table and are a bookies' 66-1 shot to win the championship, left them stunned by scoring twice in the first 26 minutes through skipper and central defender Paul Copley and new signing Mark Cooper.

Tony Agana's 57th- minute reply was not enough and the physically strong Kent outfit held out to capture all three points. The gate was the second highest in the Conference, only beaten by Yeovil's 3,602 for their home match with Stevenage, and it was bettered by just one Third Division attendance. Despite the desolation the fans felt at the loss of the Bulls' Football League status and increased admission prices this season, the turn-out showed the support is there provided the team respond with winning performances. But any repetition of Saturday's woeful first-half display and supporters' enthusiasm will quickly melt away.

United director of football Graham Turner admitted: ''Those two early goals were a shock to the system and there were quite a few unacceptable individual performances in the first half.

''By half-time the fans, as they were entitled to, were turning against us. In the second half we stepped up the tempo but we knew that Welling would be well organised in defence and would be hard to break down.''

Welling manager Kevin Hales said: ''Our lads got fired up when they looked up at the stand to see a group of home fans with 'On loan to the Vauxhall Conference' on their T-shirts. Hereford will find out in the next month what a tough league it is and I wish them luck.''

With a not-fully-fit Brian McGorry on the substitutes' bench, Hereford fielded three strikers but this resulted in Welling having too much room in midfield. And, although Hereford won the corner count 10-1, their front trio of Agana, Neil Grayson and Ian Foster produced few strikes on goal. Copley's fourth-minute headed goal came from Welling's solitary flag- kick, taken by Bary Lakin, when he rose above a static defence. In the 26th minute it was 0-2 as keeper Andy de Bont failed to hold on to Tyrone King's cross and Cooper headed into an empty net.

For the rest of the half Hereford were ponderous and unimaginative but after half-time stepped up the pace of the game for Agana to hit a 12-yard shot into the net from Gavin Mahon's corner. The Bulls were unable to turn their pressure into more goals and in a Welling breakway de Bont had to bring off a smart save to prevent substitute Colin Simpson from adding to their tally.

Hereford: de Bont, Rodgerson, Fishlock, Matthewson, Norton, Walker, Hargreaves, Mahon, Grayson, Agana, Foster (McGorry 85 mins). Subs not used: Pitman, Walker.

Attendance: 3,138