Hereford rounded of their first National League North campaign with a 2-0 home defeat to Boston United, with a goal in each half from the visitors.
Tom Clare was able to tap the ball home from a corner in the the 33rd minute, before a penalty in the second half was duly dispatched by Brad Abbott.
Boston arrived at Edgar Street with just four substitutes named on the bench, but a change for Boston before kick off saw Ryan Cresswell withdraw as Cameron Hawkes took his place in the starting XI - leaving Boston with just three options off the bench.
The strong gusts of wind made life difficult for both sides throughout the beginning of the first half and neither were able to create anything meaningful. An early corner for Boston as Danny Greenslade cut out a cross from Jay Rollins, but the visitors didn't threaten as Yates easily claimed the ball.
At the other end of the pitch, some good work on the right wing resulted in Jak Hickman delivering a cross into the box. The floating ball didn't drop enough for Mike Symons to connect with it 8-yards from goal, and harmlessly went behind for a goal kick.
The wind continued to cause problems at Edgar Street when Hereford were awarded a corner in the 20th minute. A quick break saw the ball played out to Rowan Liburd on the right before the cross was put behind for a corner before Tom Owen-Evans could get a touch. But as the resulting corner came into the box, the ball drifted away from reaching Owen-Evans at the far-post.
Six minutes later Owen-Evans tried his luck from range, but the ball sailed into the back of the Blackfriars End without troubling George Willis in goal for Boston.
Boston drew first blood in the encounter in the 33rd minute. A shot from Andi Thanoj was pushed around the upright by Yates, with the resulting corner leading to the opening goal.
Nicky Wroe's corner was swung into the box and Yates was able to get a touch, but he only succeeded in bringing the ball down to the feet of Tom Clare to tap home from close range.
There were calls from the home fans for Boston's Cameron Hawkes to be given his marching orders after a tackle on Hereford's captain sent Josh Gowling flying. After being cautioned by the referee, Mike Symons whipped the free kick into the box from the left, but somehow Rowan Liburd's shot from 10-yards was kept out, being blocked on the line.
A chance for Tom Owen-Evans in first half stoppage time was kept out by visiting 'keeper George Willis who managed to get his fingertips to the shot. The resulting corner failed to amount to anything of note before the referee blew for half time.
Half time: Hereford 0 - Boston United 1
Two changes for Hereford at the break saw the youthful James Waite replaced Mike Symons who'd picked up a knock in the first half, and Theo Wharton came on for Jak Hickman, as Keiran Thomas dropped slotted in at right back.
The first chance of the second half came for Boston, but Tom Clare drilled a low shot wide at the far post.
For Hereford, Tom Owen-Evans had a shot which was just over the bar, before Tommy O'Sullivan came close to equalising as he forced Willis into parrying his powerful rising effort, with the rebound quickly hooked cleared.
As the second half wore on, chances were limited for both sides. Boston's 'keeper did well to deny Cardiff City loanee James Waite as he tried to poke the ball past him from close-range. Moments later a Tom Owen-Evans corner was recycled into the box, but Rowan Liburd at the far-post couldn't find the target with his header as the effort went wide.
Hereford were in disbelief in the 76th minute as referee Benjamin Speedie didn't hesitate in pointing to the spot as Josh Gowling clipped Ryan Qualter, with the centre-back drastically going to ground. Up stepped Brad Abbott to take the penalty, and despite Matt Yates going the right way, he couldn't stop Boston doubling their lead.
Into the final five minutes of normal time at Edgar Street and James Waite had a great chance to pull a goal back, but after Josh Gowling flicked a corner onto Waite he fired over the bar.
Full time: Hereford 0 - Boston United 2
Sponsors' man of the match: Eliot Richards
Attendance: 2,232 (71 away)
Hereford: Yates, Hickman (Wharton 46'), Greenslade, Thomas, Cullinane-Liburd, Gowling (c), O'Sullivan, Owen-Evans, Liburd, Richards (Finn 73'), Symons (Waite 46').
Subs not used: Ezewele, Wesolowski.
Boston United: Willis (c), Middleton, Jackson, Thanoj, Qualter ⚽️, Hawkes 🔶 (Johnson 84'), Wroe, Abbott, Clare ⚽️ (Gray 90+4'), Rollins, Smith.
Subs not used: Parkin.