Hereford United 5 Forest Green Rovers 1

HEREFORD thrashed their Gloucestershire rivals with a stunning five-goal performance in the Nationwide Conference at Edgar Street on Tuesday.

The rampant Bulls ripped apart Forest Green with a dazzling display which had Rovers manager Colin Addison paying a wholesome tribute to his former club.Rob Purdie sets up a stunning half-volley for Hereford's second goal of five against Forest Green.

Addison said: "Hereford fully deserved their victory with an outstanding display and some wonderful goals. They have played magnificently tonight and are definitely a team to be reckoned with this season."

Hereford marksmen Rob Purdie and Steve Guinan both bagged braces, while it was also a memorable evening for striker Danny Carey-Bertram who came off the bench to score his maiden senior goal for the Bulls with his first touch.

Hereford skipper Tony James rattled the inside of a post with a 40-yard screamer, Carey-Bertram also had an effort ruled out for off-side, and Danny Williams was foiled at point-blank range by goalkeeper Steve Perrin as United dominated throughout.

United opened the scoring in the 17th minute when the ball cannoned off the referee for Williams who threaded a defence-splitting pass to Paul Parry. The Welshmen's low shot was pushed out by Perrin, but Guinan was on hand to tap in the rebound.

Hereford continued to dominate and Williams had an effort ruled out for off-side before the visitors drew level against the run of play when former Bulls striker Neil Grayson's soft strike somehow squirmed past goalkeeper Matt Baker.

The Bulls, however, hit back and regained the lead on the stroke of half-time when a Hereford corner was only half cleared and Jamie Pitman's high through-ball found Purdie. The former Leicester City youngster turned his marker superbly and rifled an unstoppable half-volley into the top corner.

Purdie stretched Hereford's lead with the third goal on 54 minutes when he raced on to Ben Smith's clever through-ball to finish emphatically. And then Guinan notched his second goal in the 69th minute, stretching to volley in Purdie's cross from close range.

Hereford completed the rout 13 minutes from time after Smith won a crunching challenge on the edge of the area and slipped the ball through to Carey-Bertram who coolly slotted it between the legs of Perrin.

United's delighted boss Graham Turner said: "We were full of running, passing and ideas, and it was a terrific performance."

Booked - Hereford: Williams (dissent), Tretton (foul); Forest Green: Owers (foul).

Hereford: Baker, Green, Rose, Pitman, Tretton, James, Williams, Smith, Guinan (Carey-Bertram 75 mins), Purdie, Parry. Subs not used: Craven, Scott, Teesdale, Sawyers.

Forest Green: Perrin, Jenkins, Richardson, Ingram, Russell, Foster, Grayson, Owers (Rogers 72 mins), Sykes (Cowe 46 mins), Jones, Gilroy (Cant 72 mins). Subs not used: Cook, Giannangelo.

Referee: P Gibbs (West Midlands).

Attendance: 3,195.