IF there is any justice in football, Hereford United will earn promotion to the Third Division this season.

They've played a brand of football that was won them plaudits across the country and, but for Chester City's resilience, would surely have clinched the Conference title.

Aldershot Town boss, Terry Brown, who saw his side go down 2-1 to the Bulls on Bank Holiday Monday, is among those saluting Graham Turner's team.

"I think the strength of their bench tells the difference between the two clubs," said Brown. It's taken Hereford a long time to get to the position they're in. They played good football and good luck to them."

Football, however, is anything but fair and Turner's side make the trip to Hilton Park today to play Leigh RMI clinging to the hope that Scarborough can upset Chester and force a title shoot-out at Edgar Street next weekend. If, however, Chester win and are crowned champions, it will be deserved, the table doesn't lie after all.

But while Mark Wright's team have built success on strength and consistency, Hereford have shown that teams can compete in the Conference without restoring to traditional long ball tactics.

That's certainly the view of United captain Tony James who claims Hereford's displays throughout the season, built on an attractive passing game, with lightning speed, have been good for the Conference.

"It proves you can do well playing football. For a number of years the football has not been the best but then the likes of Yeovil played some excellent football and won and we've carried that on," he said. "We've taken their example and run with it."

Hereford's attacking style has left them just seven goals shy of Barnet's record Conference total of 103 and with 13 away victories to date could yet reach that total.