HEREFORD United guaranteed their Nationwide Conference status with a dramatic 1-0 victory last night over promotion-chasing Dagenham & Redbridge at Edgar Street.

United player-coach Phil Robinson nodded in an 89th-minute winner which also thwarted the Essex club's attempt to move to the top of the table.

Man-of-the-match Ian Wright headed Gavin Williams' deep corner kick towards the near post where Robinson was on hand to divert the ball into the net and send the United fans into celebration.

The manner of the victory was particularly satisfying for the Bulls who themselves have conceded a number of last-gasp goals.

Although the visitors threw all their players forward in stoppage time, including their goalkeeper, Tony Roberts, the Daggers failed to slice open the solid Hereford defence.

"Recently, we have been the team which has been conceding late goals but tonight it was us who scored," said Robinson.

"Williams' free-kicks are always delivered with quality and we thought that we could score from a set-piece."

United certainly had the edge in an open first half in which they played some of their best football for a long time.

Scott Goodwin headed narrowly wide on five minutes and two minutes later Wright nodded a Williams free-kick into the six-yard box where central defender Tony James headed against the post.

Dagenham were quick to respond, however, and Danny Hill was unlucky to rattle the woodwork in the ninth minute and then see his follow-up effort headed off the line by Dean Barrick.

Hereford defender Richard Holmes came to the home team's rescue in the 26th minute, heading an effort from Matt Jones off the goal-line.

United missed a glorious chance to take the lead five minutes before the break when Matt Clarke's driven cross was just beyond the despairing lunge of the lively James Quiggin who was waiting for a simple tap-in.

Dagenham looked the more likelier side to open their account in a scrappy second-half but they were denied by Matt Baker who brilliantly tipped away a goal-bound shot from Jones.

Hereford: Baker 8, Holmes 7, Barrick 8, Robinson 7, Wright 9, James 8, Goodwin 8, Snape 7, Quiggin 8, Williams 7, Clarke 7 (Shirley 82). Subs (not used): Diamond, Jones, Piearce, Rowle.

Attendance: 1,583.