Hereford United 0 MK Dons 1.

HEREFORD ended their League 1 season with their 30th defeat of a dismal campaign.

Luke Howell’s goal four minutes from time confirmed MK Dons in third place in the table but it was once again a game which the Bulls should have gained some reward from.

Hereford made one change for their final game of the season.

Matt Done was included in place of Andy Williams, with Marc Pugh leading the attack alongside Steve Guinan.

Josh Gowling retained his place alongside Richard Rose at the heart of the defence with Dean Beckwith on the bench.

=Hereford were the first on to the attack and forced a corner after just two minutes, although Pugh’s cross came to nothing.

The on-loan Shrewsbury man was involved again two minutes later when Hereford had a good chance to take the lead.

Pugh made good ground down the left and his dangerous cross reached fellow-loanee Jennison Myrie-Williams.

The Bristol City man brought the ball under control and fired in a fierce shot which was confidently gathered by Willie Gueret.

Dons, who had made some changes from their full-strength side, took until 17 minutes had elapsed to provide their first threat.

A loose pass from Ben Smith on the edge of the area was picked up by Shaun Cummings who drilled a 20-yard shot wide of the target.

Chances continued, however, to be few and far between at both ends with few dangerous crosses or killer passes to provide goal-scoring opportunities.

The second-half began more promisingly with a fierce drive from Sam Baldock was turned away by Peter Gulacsi for Dons’ first corner of the game.

Mark Wright’s flag kick was headed clear by Guinan and Hereford immediately forced a corner at the other end which found Rose volleying high over.

With chances suddenly starting to arrive, a shot by Wright was deflected wide by his own player Tore Andre Flo.

But Hereford then had a great chance to take the lead.

Gueret came racing out to try to clear by the touchline but Myrie-Williams raced around before shooting from his narrow angle.

The effort was cleared off the line by Cummings but a cross might have brought more results with Guinan and Pugh well placed.

Player-of-the-year Guinan however should have opened the scoring moments later but lifted the ball over with only Gueret to beat after Pugh had got around the back of the Dons defence to deliver an inviting cross.

Dons raced back on to the attack and Gulacsi twice saved well from substitute Jemal Johnson.

With chances coming and going, a goalless draw looked on the cards.

But all that changed four minutes from time when Flo’s flick sent Howell in and he fired past Gulacsi from the edge of the area.

Hereford: Gulacsi; Gwynne, Rose, Gowling, Taylor; Myrie-Williams, Smith (Jones, 87 min), Diagouraga, Done (Brandy, 82 min); Guinan, Pugh. Subs not used: Veiga, Beckwith, MacLeod.

MK Dons; Gueret; Cummings, Llera, Stirling, Lewington; Chadwick (Regan, 78 min), Leven (Navarro, 70 min), Howell, Wright (Johnson, 52 min); Flo, Baldock. Subs not used: Abbey, Wilbraham.

Referee: Tony Bates (Staffordshire).

Attendance: 3,224 (1,078 from Milton Keynes).

Yellow cards: Hereford – Gowling, foul, 43 min.

Goals: Howell, 86 min, 0-1.