HEREFORD must face another season in the Nationwide Conference after their play-off campaign ended in bitter disappointment for the second successive season.

The Bulls again discovered that finishing second in the table is no guarantee of a passage even into the play-off final when Dino Maamria's 68th minute goal settled a scrappy match.

Hereford made three changes from the first leg with Graham Hyde, Danny Williams and Danny Carey-Bertram replacing Jamie Pitman, Simon Travis and Lee Mills.

But the changes did not appear to have brought any detrimental effect to the side as Hereford went on to have much the better of the first period.

An early Ryan Green shot was blocked and twice Adam Stansfield broke away down the right to cause confusion with dangerous crosses.

After 24 minutes, Julian came to Stevenage's rescue with the first of a handful of fine saves.

A thrusting run by Green ended with the ball worked to Rob Purdie whose shot was heading into the net until Julian pulled off a fine save.

Unfortunate

After the interval, Hereford seemed unfortunate to be denied a penalty when a Stevenage hand got in the way of a Stansfield cross.

The resilient Stevenage side battled back, however, forcing three corners in quick succession from the third of which came the decisive goal.

Anthony Elding fired in a powerful angled drive which Craig Mawson did superblywell to parry.

Unfortunately for him the ball rebounded to Maamria who had the easy task of heading the ball in from close range.

After this, Hereford were unable to find the breakthrough and it was Stevenage, through a couple of dangerous breaks by Elding who looked the more likely to add to their score.

Hereford: Mawson 6, Green 6, Mkandawire 7, Tretton 8, Robinson 6, D Williams 6 (L Williams 73 min), Hyde 7 (Travis 87 min), Stanley 6, Purdie 6, Carey-Bertram 6, Stansfield 7. Subs not used: Scott, James, Pitman.

Attendance: 6,862