Hereford'S unbeaten run of five Nationwide Conference matches at Edgar Street shuddered to halt at the hands of Stevenage whose victory shot them back on top of the table.

A win for the Bulls would have hoisted them into the leading pack. Instead, they dropped from seventh to 10th place.

Playing up the slope and against the wind, United got off to a bright start as Paul Fewings forced keeper Chris Taylor to tip his angled drive over the bar. Fewings had better luck in the 16th minute, however.

Rob Elmes headed Gavin Williams' cross against the bar and, after bobbling along the woodwork, the ball dropped down to Fewings who rammed it into the net for his third goal in three games.

After this United piled on the pressure without adding to their score. Williams, who constantly posed problems for Borough, left two defenders in his wake, only to see his shot blocked by Taylor. During the next 10 minutes Taylor also kept out shots from Elmes and Fewings.

In the 35th minute Borough's Sam McMahon netted direct from a corner and was shown the yellow card for dissent after Leicester referee Jim Hubbard penalised the visitors for a foul on keeper Mark Jones.

The Bulls had a lucky escape in the 49th minute when Jones stopped their former striker Richard Leadbeater's shot with his leg and the ball rebounded against a post and away to safety.

But three minutes later fortune turned Stevenage's way. Central defender Tony James had a run by Carl Alford, out on his right flank, well covered until he slipped on the rain-sodden surface. This gave Alford the time and space to cross to Jimmy Strouts who left Jones helpless as he rifled in a 10-yard drive.

Fewings looked sure to put Hereford back in front when he rounded Taylor but then shot wide of an empty goal. In the 67th minute Alford made no such mistake by firing Borough ahead after being left unchallenged to collect Leadbeater's flick-on from Lee Harvey's centre.

Hereford still had chances to draw level. Elmes headed a left-wing centre from Williams straight at Taylor. Then, in the dying minutes, Williams saw his header beat Taylor and rattle the bar.

Williams said: "When that happened I knew it was not going to be our day. We should have been three up at half-time. I had a one-to-one with the keeper and Paul Fewings had a good chance, too."

United right-back Matt Clarke, returning after a two-match suspension, and Borough's Harvey were booked following a touch-line scuffle in the second half.

Hereford: Jones, Clarke, Wall, James, Sturgess, Rodgerson, Taylor, Snape (Parry 74 min), Elmes, Fewings (Hanson 67 minute), Williams. Substitutes not used: Lane, Rudall, Cotterill.

Attendance: 2,145.