Hereford plunged to 15th place in the Nationwide Conference after throwing away another two points through crass defending in their Bank Holiday derby match at Edgar Street.

The Bulls' second league victory looked in the offing when they led 2-0 after 66 minutes through strikers Steve Piearce and Rob Elmes. But two pieces of poor defending allowed Gez Murphy to snap up a brace of goals and a point.

Last season Hereford's problem was scoring goals - now it's preventing them. They have conceded nine goals in their last four games and have yet to keep a clean sheet in six outings.

In fact, Telford could well have won. With three minutes left only a fine save by Andy Quy kept out a Steve Palmer shot and in injury time a misplaced header by Tony James left Jim Bentley with only Quy to beat, but he shot wide.

Quy also came to Hereford's rescue in the first half, making two excellent saves to deny Scott Huckerby and Bentley. On the half-hour, however, the Bulls took the lead. Gavin Williams skipped past two defenders in a surging run and crossed for Piearce to apply the finishing touch from close range. But just before half-time it took a brilliant interception by Matt Clarke to avert a dangerous situation for Hereford at the other end.

In the 66th minute Elmes held off a challenge from Bentley to head home Clarke's right-wing cross - a goal which should have sealed victory. Two minute later, however, substitute Martyn Naylor, who did his YTS training with Hereford, delivered a deep centre to Murphy who, unchallenged, rammed the ball past Quy.

The home defence, without injured skipper Ian Wright, slipped up again. In the 76th minute. Tony James failed to deal with a run-of-the-mill through ball, allowing Murphy to charge through and snap up his second goal.

United director of football Graham Turner's comment was: "The strikers did their job, Gavin Williams was lively and, after going two up, we should have played it steady for five minutes. The cross for their first goal should have been dealt with and the through ball for the second should have been bread and butter for a central defender."

Hereford: Quy, Clarke, Wall, James, Sturgess, Hanson, Taylor, Snape, Pierce (May 73 min), Elmes Williams. Subs not used: Lane, Jones, Cotterill, Shirley.

Attendance: 1,910.