IT was heartbreak for Salisbury as the Wembley dream ended after suffering a 2-1 defeat (3-1 on aggregate) to Hereford in front of a record crowd at the Ray Mac.

Salisbury got off to the best possible start when a calm Steve Walker stroked his side ahead on 17 minutes.

The biggest ever crowd of 3,450 - 42 more fans in 2013 for the Conference South play-off final - were then roaring Salisbury forward but the Bulls hit back just before half-time when Mike Symons poked home Ross Staley's cross at the back post.

The second-half was all Hereford and only a string of stunning saves from Charlie Searle kept the rampant visitors out.

And when Searle superbly saved a penalty from Mustapha Bundu, who scored the only goal in the first leg, the crowd were re-energized.

However, a goal on the 78th minute from substitute Joe Tumelty, just eight minutes after coming on, confirmed Hereford’s place at Wembley on May 22 against Morpeth Town, who struck a late winner to beat Bowers and Pitsea 2-1 (4-3 on aggregate).

Boss Steve Claridge said: "It was huge disappointment to get ourselves in a winning position and be the better side in the first half."

"I think to concede like we did, and then play in the manner we did second half, from my perspective was very disappointing.

"We live and learn and that's the first time we've played real quality like that and come up short.

"If we had gone in at 1-0, with a lead we deserved, we wouldn't have had to chase the game."

"In the second half, we never really looked like getting back into the game."

"It was no surprise really with the front three they've got that they hit us on the break."

"It's gone now."

"We need to re-group and make sure between now and May 7 that we do what we've done all season and get out of this league."

Salisbury return to league action on Tuesday night with the trip to Alresford (7.45pm).