Hereford 0-2 Colchester

Hereford slipped into League Two after being soundly beaten by two first-half goals from Colchester at Edgar Street.

Midfielder Mark Yeates - who had hit the post in the early stages - set up Colchester's win with a curling free-kick into the roof of the net.

And Colchester went further ahead when Hereford's Dean Beckwith deflected a whipped Yeates cross into his own net.

It could have been more for the U's as Hereford tamely fell to a 28th league defeat this season and relegation.

Hereford manager Graham Turner told BBC Hereford and Worcester:

"It was generally a lethargic acceptance of our plight and that was annoying.

"I said before the game that we had to go and show a bit of professionalism and have a real go to salvage some pride.

"While we have kept a clean sheet in the second half but that was scant consolation for us, but it was the manner in which we have conceded the goals that changed the complexion of the game."

Hereford: Gulacsi, Gwynne, Beckwith, Gowling, Taylor (Rose 46), Pugh (Smith 72), O'Leary (Jones 72), Diagouraga, Done, Guinan, Myrie-Williams.
Subs Not Used: Veiga, Macleod.

Booked: Guinan.

Colchester: Gerken, Maybury (Corcoran 89), Coyne, Baldwin, Tierney, Yeates, White (Heath 84), Izzet, Hackney (Wordsworth 70), Vincent, Wasiu.
Subs Not Used: Cousins, Trotman.

Booked: Coyne.

Goals: Yeates 36, Beckwith 43 og.

Hereford are relegated

Att: 2,100

Ref: Carl Boyeson (E Yorkshire).