MIDFIELDER Gavin Mahon netted his first ever Football League goal to spark of this victory which lifted Hereford off the bottom rung of the Nationwide League Third Division.

His 28th-minute goal was the first United had scored in five matches. For good measure, Chris Hargreaves and Adrian Foster netted two more in the second period the first from United's strikers in Third Division games this season. Their three-goal tally was also one more than they had netted in all of their previous seven league matches.

A relieved director of football Graham Turner said: ''It was embarrassing to be at the bottom of the table and we needed to battle to get away from that position. Everyone worked hard and I was particularly pleased to see Chris Hargreaves and Adrian Foster get goals it will give their confidence a boost.''

Gareth Stoker, captaining the side in the absence of David Norton, out of action with a knee injury, said: ''We went out, got wired up and got stuck in. What we lack in experience we need to make up for with determination.''

Ninteen-year Mark Hibbard made his Football League debut and played a steady game at left- back, while new signing Neal Bartlett, the former Southampton midfielder, went on for Stoker in the last minute.

On the downside, Jamie Pitman added to United's injury list, Murray Fishlock and Gary Cook, as well as Norton, were sidelined, when he retired in the 64th minute with a recurrence of a shoulder injury. Three minutes later Mahon was also withdrawn injured.

Neither side made a commanding impression on the game before Mahon opened the scoring when he rose for Dean Smith's cross and dropped his header past keeper Ian Gray into the bottom corner of the net.

It was one of the few scoring chances created in the first half but in the 53rd minute Hereford increased their lead. The home team were awarded a free-kick on the left after Andy Fensome, who was booked for the offence, brought down Mahon.

Keith Downing's free-kick was cleared to the right where Stoker gained possession and released a short pass to Wayne Sutton. He crossed low into the goalmouth for Hargreaves to pick his spot and place his shot well out of Gray's reach.

The final goal came with six minutes left. Substitute Phil Preedy sent Adrian Foster through to fire wide of the advancing Gray. Territorially The Dale had a fair share of the play, in fact, forcing six corners to United's one. In the second half United goalkeeper Andy DeBont twice had to dive to his left to parry away shots from Ian Leonard and Mark Stuart, while, with the score 2-0, substitute Quentin Townsend cleared of the line from Steve Whitehall.

Hereford: DeBont, Pitman (Townsend 64 min), Smith, Brough, Sutton, Hibbard, Downing, Stoker (Bartlett 89 min), Mahon (Preedy 69 min), Hargreaves, Foster.

Attendance: 2,135.