Hereford'S FA Umbro Trophy campaign came to an end in the most disappointing fashion against Ryman Leaguers on Saturday.

The Bulls' exploits in the FA Cup this season have gone a long way to rekindling supporters' pride in the club, with the victories of York and Hartlepool and the near-miss against Premiership Leicester built on the commitment and energy of the players.

Little of that was evident on Saturday as Hereford were consistently outfought by a club which had previously lost five successive home games and had been freely conceding goals as they did so.

Hereford were under the cosh right from the start and Paul Sturgess had to clear at the expense of a corner as Justin Gentle's cross fizzed across goal.

Gentle went close to giving the home side the lead five minutes later when Mark Jones parried Colin Simpson's shot as far as Stafford Browne. Browne crossed the ball to the far post where Gentle thudded a header against the crossbar.

Hereford gradually forced their way back into the game and a particularly good spell around the half-hour mark saw Matt Clarke shoot narrowly wide, Mark Taylor hit the post after Gavin Williams' persistence had set up the chance, and Rob Elmes head a Chris Lane cross just wide.

But Billericay were simply spurred back into action and Browne gave them the lead after 34 minutes, turning smartly to shoot home from Dean Parratt's free-kick.

Four minutes into the second period and the advantage was doubled. Paul Linger made ground down the right and his low cross was bundled into the net by Gentle at the far post.

United boss Graham Turner immediately threw Leroy May and Paul Parry into the action in place of Paul Fewings and John Snape but, although Sturgess and Elmes got in good efforts, the next goal was again from the home side.

Russell Penn somehow eluded Sturgess and Parry to get in a cross from the right. Lee Williams' intelligent dummy opened up the space for Simpson and he gave Jones no chance.

Excellent work by May on the right set up a consolation goal for Elmes but Hereford, despite plenty of possession in the closing stages, never looked like finding the openings which would give them any reward from the tie.

Bookings for skipper Ian Wright and Sturgess mean that they will join Matt Clarke on the sidelines, suspended, when Hereford play Hednes-ford on Saturday week.

Hereford: Jones, Lane, Sturgess, Snape (Parry 52 min), Wright, Clarke, Rodgerson, Taylor, Elmes, Williams, Fewings (sub May 52 min). Subs not used: Pitt, Shirley, Beale.

Billericay: King, Game, Linger, Culverhouse, Moore, Parratt, Penn, Gentle (Jordan 85 min), Simpson, Browne, Williams. Subs not used: Scott, Blaney, Henty, Trainer.

Referee: N F Perkin (Gravesend)

Attendance: 782

l Hereford will visit Northwich Victoria in the Nationwide Conference on Saturday, February 5.

Originally they were scheduled to go to Northwich last Saturday but the game was postponed because of the FA Umbro Trophy tie at Billericay.

New dates have also been agreed for two other matches which were postponed due to United's FA Cup run.

They will visit Stevenage on Monday, February 28 and Kingstonian on Wednesday, March 22.