Hereford United put together three successive Vauxhall Conference victories for the second time this season by gaining revenge over Hayes at Edgar Street on Tuesday.

It was also the first occasion this term that they have gone three consecutive matches without conceding a goal.

Hayes beat the Bulls 2-0 at Church Road in September but they never looked in with a chance of repeating that result in the return encounter as Richard Leadbeater, Jamie Pitman and Chris Hargreaves snapped up goals.

True, Hayes were handicapped by the sending off of skipper Andy Cox for a foul on Neil Grayson in the 53rd minute. But at that time Hereford were leading 1-0 and in virtually complete control.

It took some fine saves by Hayes keeper Russell Meara to prevent United from winning by a bigger margin.

Midfielder Rob Warner was particularly unlucky not to get a goal. In the first half he rattled a post with a skimming 25-yard drive, was foiled by a fine Meara save in the second period, and then his shot paved the way for Hargreaves to score.

After Grayson had headed wide in the ninth minute Hereford went one up nine minutes later. Hargreaves' drive was deflected off a defender as Grayson challenged him and Leadbeater, completing his second month's loan from Wolves, beat Meara with a close range shot for his fifth goal in United's colours.

The second goal came in the 58th minute. Meara brilliantly parried away a vicious Grayson shot but Pitman was on hand to tuck away his fifth goal of the season.

After this Meara made three more fine saves to foil Tony Agana, Hargreaves and Warner, while Grayson ran through to drive over the bar. In the final minute Grayson's cross was headed back to Warner by Pitman. Warner's shot was on target but hit Chris Sparkes and rebounded onto Hargreaves and then into the net.

Hereford: Quy, Rodgerson, Walker, Matthewson, Fishlock, Pitman, Warner, Mahon, Hargreaves, Leadbeater (Agana 46 min), Grayson. Subs not used: Brough, Cook.

Attendance: 1,663.