Colchester United won 2-0 at Edgar Street today to condemn Hereford United to relegation to Coca-Cola League Two.

The U's ran out comfortable winners to end a run of three successive defeats and leave the Bulls deflated.

Colchester almost went ahead inside two minutes when the outstanding Mark Yeates' fierce strike struck the post.

Ashley Vincent and Alan Maybury also came close to giving Colchester the lead, before the deadlock was broken, nine minutes before the break.

Sunday Wasiu was fouled on the edge of the area and Yeates curled a fine free-kick past Hereford goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and in at the far post.

Three minutes before half-time, Colchester doubled their lead.

Maybury's lay-off allowed Yeates to curl the ball into the area and Dean Beckwith glanced a header into his own net from close range.

Colchester were comfortable in the second half and the Bulls rarely looked like troubling goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

Teenager Sam Corcoran came on for the U's in the final minutes to make his first-team debut, as Colchester secured another three away points.

The U's have now collected 35 points on their travels in the league, the biggest such haul in their history.

For a full report, pictures and reaction to Colchester's win at Hereford, see Monday's Colchester Gazette.