Hereford produced their bravest performance of the season to win away for only the second time.

Ryan Green gave Hereford a lead midway through the first period.

But the Bulls had to hold on for more than 45 minutes after James McQuilkin was sent off for a second yellow card late in the first half.

Fine goalkeeping by Adam Bartlett and hard work by all of his nine outfield team-mates earned Hereford a deserved win.

After Saturday’s hammering at Notts County, Hereford boss John Trewick again wielded the axe for the short trip to Whaddon Road.

The Bulls chief made four changes, two of which were forced by suspensions incurred by Chris Adamson and Paul Downing.

Adamson was replaced by skipper Bartlett with Richard Rose moving inside to take the place of Downing.

Experienced full-back pairing Green and Ryan Valentine were reinstated while former Gambian international Edrissa Sonko was called up for the first time since November.

Hereford had an early opportunity when Gavin McCallum raced on to Valentine’s long punt forward.

The striker’s scuffed cross was easily gathered by keeper Scott Brown.

Town moved on to the attack and a long-range drive from Michael Pook cleared the bar by several feet.

An early foul by McQuilkin earned the midfielder a caution as Cheltenham sought to profit from some good early possession.

And they almost did so in the sixth minute when Bartlett produced a flying save to claw away veteran Julian Alsop’s header.

But, at the other end, Brown had to dive to push away Leon Constantine’s header from a deep cross by Sonko.

Both sides enjoyed good spells of possession without much threat to goal but, after 17 minutes, David Hutton found some space to unleash a drive which flew over Bartlett’s goal.

McQuilkin’s accuracy at the other end was no better after a speedy move down the right opened up a shooting chance.

But it was Hereford who took the lead on 25 minutes with an exquisitely worked goal.

Green went rampaging through the Town defence at pace and received a return pass from Kenny Lunt before drilling a shot past Brown.

It was the former Wales defender’s first goal since his match-winning strike in the Conference play-off final against Halifax Town four seasons ago and his first in the Football League..

Hereford were now dominating and Pugh cracked a shot just wide from the edge of the area.

Town, however, should have levelled when Barry Hayles cracked Hutton’s cross inches past a post from a good position.

Hutton then forced a fine diving save from Bartlett with a drive from the edge of the area.

And Daniel Preston and Bartlett almost presented Hayles with a goal after a defensive misunderstanding.

But it was Hereford who were playing the better football and Lunt might have done better with a drive from the edge of the box which went wide.

But four minutes before the break, Hereford who had been in charge, made things more difficult for themselves.

McQuilkin charged into a tackle without a hope of getting the ball in a position with no danger, was late, took his man and received a second yellow card.

Hereford were under pressure straight from the re-start and it took a brilliant point-blank save from Bartlett to keep out Alsop’s header.

Constantine, who appeared to be operating on the right of midfield with Sonko inside and McCallum on his own up front, completed the clearance.

But Hereford still threatened on the break and McCallum was just inches from reaching a through ball from Pugh as Brown came out to gather.

The Bulls defence was working hard, though, as Cheltenham continued to press and Matt Thornhill sent a header skimming over.

Lunt, who was working hard to compensate for the absence of McQuilkin, turned neatly from a throw by Green but could not keep his shot down.

And Pugh broke through with purpose before seeing his deflected drive gathered by Brown.

Bartlett was soon back in the action at the other end and the Bulls keeper pulled off a brilliant diving save to turn behind Pook’s 20-yard effort.

Another goalbound Pook drive struck his own player to deflect away from danger.

But McCallum missed a great chance to extend the lead, firing over from eight yards after Constantine’s cross broke to him.

Hereford continued to hang on as Cheltenham twice had appeals for penalties waved away within seconds.

And Bartlett was busy again, diving to hold a shot from substitute Justin Richards.

But Green came close to repeating his first-half strike on minutes when, after a one-two with Mathieu Manset, his left-foot shot delfected out for a corner.

Bartlett, however, continued to show superb form and defied Elvis Hammond with another flying save.

Hereford: Bartlett; Green, Preston, Rose, Valentine; Pugh, Lunt, McQuilkin, Sonko; McCallum (Manset, 76 min), Constantine (Lowe, 82 min). Subs not used: Gwynne, Weir, Morris, Done.

Cheltenham: Brown, Bird (Watkins, 45 min), Gallinagh (Hammond, 89 min), Eastham, Ridley; Hutton (Richards, 70 min), Thornhill, Pook, Low; Hayles, Alsop. Subs not used: Puddy, Duff, Watkins, Lewis, Andrew.

Referee: Anthony Taylor (Greater Manchester).

Attendance: 3,273 (including 495 from Hereford).

Red card: Hereford – McQuilkin, foul, 4 min; foul, 40 min.

Yellow cards: Hereford – McCallum, kicking ball away, 62 min; Pugh, tiem-wasting, 84 min; Cheltenham – Pook, foul, 35 min.

Goals: Green, 25 min, 0-1.