LANCE Smith fired threadbare Hereford to a 1-0 victory at Dorchester Town but boss Peter Beadle’s joy was tempered by Dan Preston’s decision to decline a recall.

Beadle said he had asked defender Preston, dual registered with Bromsgrove, to play after a flu bug had decimated his squad.

“We had eight players in training on Thursday with the hope of getting some there but when they’re ill, they’re ill,” said Beadle

“We had to go with what we had but I was disappointed to get a text message off Dan to say he didn’t want to let Bromsgrove down, which I find hard to believe.

“The plan was for him to go there, play some games and be ready for us next season but that won’t happen now because he’s put his own nails in his coffin.

“He hasn’t had a great time with injuries but we tried to do the best by him and he’s thrown it back at us, which is really disappointing.”

Smith’s 61st-minute header from a John Mills cross decided matters in Dorset to move third-placed Hereford to within two points of the summit with four games in hand over top two Kettering Town and King’s Lynn.

Beadle's men will top the pile if they can win at Biggleswade Town on Tuesday (7.45).