Wrexham slumped to their third defeat in four matches as opponents Hereford United extended their unbeaten start to the season at the Racecourse this afternoon.
To rub salt in the Dragons’ wounds, they lost defender Steve Evans early in the game to an ankle injury that could rule him out of international duty for Wales next week.
But home boss Brian Carey could have few complaints about the result after watching his out-of-sorts side dominated for much of the game by the Bulls.
The first half was pretty much a non-event, with neither side showing any urgency and very few chances presenting themselves.
Although home winger Matty Done seemed to have the beating of United defender Trent McClenahan, the teenager’s final ball into the penalty area was too often poor and Wrexham’s best opportunity fell to Neil Roberts, who scuffed a shot wide of Wayne Brown’s goal.
But it was the visitors who went ahead eight minutes into the second half when Toumani Diagouraga beat goalkeeper Anthony Williams to the ball and, although his shot was blocked on the line by Richard Hope, Kris Taylor followed up to score from the rebound.
The introduction of substitutes Michael Carvill and Eifion Williams galvanised Wrexham into action and Brown made a fine save when the Northern Ireland youngster created an opening for his fellow replacement.
Hereford, though, displayed the killer instinct their opponents were plainly lacking with a second after 74 minutes, substitute Trevor Benjamin lashing the ball past Williams from Clint Easton’s cross.
