Hereford crashed out of the FA Trophy when Ryman Division 1 side Hitchin Town came back from behind to record a shock win.

And with defender Chris Lane sent-off just 16 minutes from the end, the Bulls can take little comfort from this tie which was almost a carbon-copy of the Hereford's FA Cup defeat at the hands of Hitchin four years ago.

On that occasion Hereford came to Hertfordshire and looked to be well on course for a win after scoring an early goal. It was a case of deja vu in this Trophy clash as Hereford again struck first, going ahead on just four minutes.

The visitors enjoyed the best of the early pressure, Richard Leadbeater seeing a long range strike palmed away by home keeper Darren Bonfield. But the Hitchin defence could do little about a pinpoint Mark Taylor corner which was powerfully headed home by Ian Wright.

Boosted by the goal, Hereford continued to dominate, Gavin Williams only denied by a diving Bonfield block while Stuart Evans saw a looping header from a Taylor cross in just clear the bar.

Over-fussy refereeing from Mr Dorr, of Worcester, soon saw the booking count pile up, Rudi Hall for Hitchin going in the book, while Leadbeater and crucially Lane were also booked for first-half fouls. The home side clawed their way back into the clash as the half wore on, Mark Jones called upon to make one tough gather from a corner before Hitchin pulled level on 37 minutes. A free-kick in from Allpress fell to Hall and although his effort cannoned back off the post, Scott Cretton beat the slow Bulls' defence to the punch and tucked home the loose ball.

Hereford boss Graham Turner brought on Garry Cook for Wayne Dyer at the break, and the change saw Hereford edge the start of the second half, Ian Wright wasting the best effort on 57 minutes when he saw a strike cleared off the line by Williams, and then fired goalwards only for keeper Bonfield to save.

A brave diving block from Jones at the feet of Gary Dixon on the hour mark signalled a change in fortunes in the game as Hitchin took a grip, Adam Parker forcing a save from Jones while Zema Abbey narrowly touched a cross wide.

The Ryman League side finally went ahead on 71 minutes with a goal which begged plenty of questions over the Hereford defence. A Carl Williams cross into the box was touched on by Abbey, and Dixon arrived at the far post to slide home. Dispirited by the goal, Hereford were punished just three minutes later when Lane was sent off for his second bookable offence, a foul on Dixon. Taylor had the best of the late efforts for Hereford, just failing to get on the end of a dangerous cross from Williams into the box. But Hitchin cleared it, and they were to hold on to book a home third round clash with Enfield.

Hereford: Jones, Collins, Downing, Wright, Evans, Dyer (Cook 45 mins), Taylor, Leadbeater, Rodgerson, Williams. Subs not used: Druce, Parry.