Hereford chalked up their biggest win in the GM Vauxhall Conference with this defeat of lowly Stalybridge and they did it without top marksman Neil Grayson scoring.

Not that Grayson, who has netted eight goals this season, was out of the picture. This time he did not fire the shots but supplied the ammunition for Andy Milner, Ian Foster and Jamie Pitman to do so. Stalybridge, without an away league goal this term, were hardly the strongest of Conference opposition. Even so, teams with title aspirations cannot afford to slip against the likes of Celtic and the Bulls did an effective demolition job on them. Only a string of fine saves by visiting keeper Mark Statham prevented a bigger winning margin.

The victory extended United's unbeaten run to four matches and lifted them to fourth place in the table. Director of football Graham Turner said: ''We are playing with more shape now and there is a good mood in the camp.''

Stalybridge made a couple of early long-range attempts to net that elusive away goal. Steve Jones' shot cleared the bar by a few feet, while Lee Trundle's drive whizzed past the far post by a closer margin. Celtic were defending solidly in depth but Statham came to their rescue by blocking Milner's shot and then parrying away Grayson's close-range drive. In the 32nd minute, however, he had no chance of denying United the lead. Grayson delivered a cross from the right for Milner to head in, well out of Statham's reach. It was Milner's first Hereford goal since he joining on loan from Chester City last month.

United's other loan signing from Crewe Alex-andra, keeper Mark Gayle, had little to do on his home debut for his new club until he was tested by an angled drive from Robert Trees.

Most of the action was in Celtic's half and right on half-time the Bulls made it 2-0. Grayson threaded a pass to Ian Foster who ran on to shoot through Statham's legs for his second goal of the campaign. Immediately after the break Hereford pounded Celtic's goal but they were frustrated by Statham. He made a superb, diving save to push Grayson's shot away for a corner and then tipped Milner's header over the bar. Soon after he was in action again, holding on to a powerful Chris Hargreaves drive.

Hereford remained firmly in control, although their third goal did not arrive until the 85th minute. Statham looked to have averted danger when he dived at Grayson's feet. But the striker regained possession and squared the ball to Milner who transferred it on to Pitman. The midfielder struck the ball perfectly to send it fizzing away from Statham's outstretched hand into the top of the net. One Hereford player received a yellow card, central defender Richard Walker for a foul.

Hereford: Gayle, Warner, Brough, Walker, Hargreaves, Pitman, Rodgerson, Mahon, Milner, Grayson, Foster (Fishlock 67 min). Subs not used: Matthewson, Cook.

Attendance: 2,312.