Hereford United's relegation back to League Two was officially confirmed this afternoon following yet another disappointing defeat at the hands of Colchester United this time. The U's managed a 2-0 win at Edgar Street with Mark Yeates opening the scoring with a free-kick before minutes after Dean Beckwith scored an own goal. Just 2,100 were in attendance at Edgar Street to see The Bulls's one year stay in League One ended.
Hereford were boosted defensively by the returning pair Joshua Gowling and Beckwith and they came in for Richard Rose and Ben Smith, with Toumani Diagouraga returning to his natural central midfield role. The visitors were without former Bulls' loanee Karl Hawley who returned to his parent club Preston North End in mid-week. Ashley Vincent started for Colchester, having faced Hereford twice already this season whilst playing for Cheltenham Town.
The first-half was dominated by the U's and they nearly took the lead after just three minutes. A mis-placed pass from Kris Taylor was pounced upon by Yeates and he ran past two defenders before seeing a right-foot shot hit the post from 20 yards before bouncing clear. A neat swivel in the box from Akanni-Sunday Wasiu allowed him to drag a shot past the post whilst at the other end, Hereford's only shot on goal came from Taylor after Toumani had shifted the ball to him, the former Man Utd trainee sliced a right-foot shot past the far post. Both Yeates and Simon Hackney had relatively weak efforts coming in from the left with the latter forcing Peter Gulacsi into a routine save whilst a header from Chris Coyne at the near-post went wide. A big boot forward from U's 'keeper Dean Gerken ws mis-judged inside the Hereford box by Taylor and Vincent nicked in but his header was well blocked from the out-rushing Gulacsi.
Colchester nearly took the lead in spectacular fashion when a cross from the right wing was headed out by Gowling but fell nicely for Alan Maybury who sent a first-time volley goalwards; Gulacsi dived to his left and was pleased to see the ball fall just a foot past the far top corner. They didn't rue the miss for very long though as Yeates opened the scoring in the 36th minute. Sam Gwynne had pushed Wasiu in the back and conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position; Yeates placed the ball and from the left, he curled a powerful free-kick around the wall and into the near corner. Six minutes later and Colchester added a second, a goal which killed the game off. The tricky winger had brushed aside the challenge of Stephen O'Leary before cutting back and sending a cross into the danger area with his left-foot; the ball had enough power to brush off the head of Beckwith and into the far top corner. Yeates may claim the goal and if that is the case, he could have had a hattrick on the stroke of half-time. Vincent showed sublime feet on the wing to get away from Taylor before racing into the box and cutting back for Yeates, who took one touch before shooting but his goalbound effort was deflected out for a corner.
At half-time, Rose replaced Taylor at left-back as Hereford looked to minimise the threat Vincent was posing right the wing. A switch of play from Diagouraga was bought down by Jennison Myrie-Williams, who skipped past two before hitting a 30 yarder just past the post with his left-foot. Yeates replicated Myrie-Williams effort but his shot from long-range failed to trouble Gulacsi whilst a header into the Hereford box was controlled by Wasiu who span before powerfully sending a rising shot over the bar from 15 yards. Anthony Holdsworth replaced Hackney for Paul Lambert's men, who rarely threatened in the second-half whilst also keeping The Bulls at bay. Graham Turner introduced Smith and youngster Craig Jones, for his first Football League appearence, with Marc Pugh and O'Leary making way. Jones was involved soon after coming on, sending in a corner for Beckwith who made good contact with the ball but Gerken held on by his post. At the other end, Yeates placed a pass into the feet of Wasiu, who turned but saw a low shot from a central position held by Gulacsi. In the closing stages of a second-half which was played like a pre-season match, Matt Heath and Sam Corcoran replaced John White and Maybury.
It was yet another desperately poor Hereford performance with a lack of passion on show. Colchester did enough to claim the win but were never in top gear but to be frank, they didn't need to be. Matty Done looked lively for Hereford and will be a good outlet next season in League Two whilst Steve Guinan's work-rate could not be faulted. Yet, it's the same old story. The lack of quality across the pitch resulted in a lack of chances being created and the U's had a peaceful day defensively. Hereford must pick themselves up now for the three remaining games with a trip to Yeovil coming up on Tuesday night.
Hereford: Gulacsi, Gwynne, Gowling, Beckwith, Taylor, Pugh, O'Leary, Diagouraga, Done, Guinan, Myrie-Williams.
Sus: Veiga, Rose, Macleod, Jones, Smith.
Colchester: Gerken, Maybury, Coyne, Baldwin, Tierney, Yeates, White, Izzet, Hackney, Vincent, Wasiu.
Subs: Cousins, Heath, Trotman, Wordsworth, Corcoran.