FOR 45 minutes Cheltenham Town looked destined for another derby disaster against bogey side Hereford United until a second half rally took them back to the top of League Two.

The first half display was lacklustre from a Robins side who were possibly still suffering the effects of their 4-2 defeat at title rivals Crawley Town four days earlier.

Boss Mark Yates started with a 4-4-2 formation for the first time since Cheltenham drew 0-0 at home with Hereford before their charge towards the promotion places began back in September.

Darryl Duffy and Jimmy Spencer replaced Jeff Goulding and Russ Penn in what looked like a statement of attacking intent from Yates, who was desperate to see Cheltenham earn their first Football League victory over the Bulls at the eighth attempt.

But with 20 minutes played, Cheltenham found themselves a goal down and had been forced to clear another effort off the line, resulting in a swift return to the more familiar 4-5-1 shape.

Hereford's goal was a particularly disappointing one to concede as left-back Benoit Dalibard's hopeful ball into the penalty area found burly front man Delroy Facey all alone.

He had all the time and space in the world to place his header past Scott Brown in the 11th minute and it was no more than the home side deserved.

Hereford were fired up and more competitive in the early stages, winning possession back far too comfortably and dominating in the air all over the pitch.

Perhaps Jamie Pitman's team were inspired by the heroes of their 1972 FA Cup win over Newcastle United, who were gathered at Edgar Street to mark the 40th anniversary of Ronnie Radford's unforgettable strike.

Cheltenham's central defenders Alan Bennett and former Bull Keith Lowe were overworked and found themselves struggling against the low sun dazzling their eyes from the other end.

On a number of occasions right-back Sido Jombati came to the rescue with some important last-ditch interventions after Cheltenham had been cut open and in the 15th minute Luke Summerfield cleared Nicky Featherstone's attempt away on the line.

Kaid Mohamed switched from the left wing to a central position in behind Duffy, with Spencer and Jermaine McGlashan occupying the wide positions.

McGlashan always looked capable of creating openings, but he did not see enough of the ball and Cheltenham's passing, not helped by a poor playing surface, was a long way below par.

Ex-Cheltenham skipper Michael Townsend was given plenty of stick from the travelling supporters, but he produced a strong first half display and Hereford goalkeeper Adam Bartlett was rarely called into action before the break.

But Bartlett was forced to pick the ball out of his net in the 59th minute as Cheltenham made a vast improvement in the second period.

McGlashan was the provider, picking out Mohamed who scored with a firm header to register his eighth goal of the campaign.

Mohamed began to cause more problems and he looked the most likely matchwinner, seeing a header cleared off the line and firing wide from a position after a long throw from Marlon Pack fell to him in a promising position.

Cheltenham spent much of the remaining half an hour camped in the Hereford half, but they failed to work Bartlett enough and Tom Barkhuizen almost made them pay.

He reached a long ball on the edge of the penalty area and knocked it past the advancing Brown only to see it drift wide of the far post as Cheltenham heaved a sigh of relief.

Substitute Lyle Taylor saw a low shot turned around the near post by Brown, but Cheltenham dominated territorially and managed to put together some far more cohesive football.

They failed to find the killer touch however and had to settle for a point for the third year running at Hereford.

HEREFORD UNITED: A Bartlett; B Purkiss, R Green, M Townsend, B Dalibard (S Clucas 24); J Colbeck, W Evans, R Purdie, N Featherstone (S Clist 74), T Barkhuizen; D Facey (L Taylor 60). Subs not used: Y Arquin, D Cornell.

CHELTENHAM TOWN: S Brown; S Jombati, A Bennett, K Lowe, L Garbutt; J McGlashan (B Smikle 86), M Pack, J Spencer (J Low 90), L Summerfield, K Mohamed; D Duffy (J Goulding 83). Subs not used: H Hooman, R Penn.

REFEREE: R East.

ATTENDANCE: 2,607 (718 away).

STAR MAN: Sido Jombati.