The Skrill Premier

Hereford 1

Salisbury 0

Half time: 0-0

DOM Collins’s diving header was enough to give cash-strapped Hereford United victory over Salisbury City as both sides battled in blustery conditions.

The telling moment came seven minutes after the restart when the right-back made a strong connection with Frankie Artus’s corner at the far post.

Minutes before the winner was struck, The Bulls had a dominant spell of pressure which saw Will Puddy deny lanky striker Dan Walker and then flap an effort from Artus over the top.

Noisy home fans, who raised roughly £23,000 towards the £36,800 outstanding tax bill which was paid on Friday, provided an electric atmosphere inside Edgar Street.

But it didn’t disrupt the hosts from putting in a strong last 30 minutes in search of a point. Warren Feeney, getting his second consecutive start, tried his luck and Elliott Frear curled one towards Daniel Lloyd-Weston’s rearguard.

Then, Jamie White, cannoning a shot off the upright at the end of the first half, turned away from his marker inside the area but his attempt was blocked by Weston.

The Bulls were hanging onto their solitary lead by the thread and were let-off after City appeared to have legitimately scored an equaliser from a set-piece.

Substitute Rob Sinclair sent in a fizzing corner that clipped the post and seemed to clear the line before Weston swept to safety. Sinclair, along with a clan of yellow and blue shirts, led the protests to referee Paul Rees but the persuasiveness didn’t rub off on his verdict.

Salisbury were incensed and mustered one more opportunity, this time Ryan Brett hit a long distance snapshot but Weston smuggled to safety.

Boss Mikey Harris described the defeat as daylight robbery.

“I feel completely robbed,” he said.

“How we didn’t get something from the game I don’t understand. The major talking point is the goal that wasn’t given. We’ve whipped one in from a wide area and it’s clearly gone over the line.

"All the players know it and even Hereford’s squad said we were unlucky because the ball crossed the line. With the way we were playing we could have gone on and maybe taken all three points.

“At least we deserved was a point. I’m gutted.”

Salisbury City: (4-4-2): Puddy, MacDonald, Wilson (c), Dutton, Hart (Clarke, 53), Lewis, Kamdjo (R.Sinclair 60), Brett, Frear, Feeney, White (Fitchett, 80).

Subs not used: Bittner, Wellard.

Att: 2,060.

Referee: Paul Rees.

Star man: Elliott Frear.