HEREFORD FC crashed out of the FA Cup as Bishop’s Stortford came from behind to earn a 3-2 victory in the Third Qualifying Round tie.

Yusifu Ceesay gave the Bulls an 11th minute lead before Rashawn Scott and Ryan Charles put the Southern League Premier side ahead.

Jack Roberts extended the home side’s advantage, and despite Andy Williams’ late strike, Hereford were unable to mount a comeback.

Paul Caddis’ side started the match on the front foot, with Ceesay’s fifth minute cross finding Adam Rooney in the area who sent his subsequent effort just wide of the post.

Hereford were ahead six minutes later when a clearance from the home side fell to Ceesay who set himself up before rifling a strike into the top left-hand corner in fine style.

However, the Bulls were pegged back in the 28th minute when Scott’s audacious chip from the halfway mark saw him catch Aaron Chapman off his line and find the back of the net.

An indirect free-kick for Bishop’s Stortford on the stroke of half-time almost saw them grab a second, with Sammy Robinson denying Carl DeSilva’s fierce strike on the goal-line to keep the scores level.

The Blues did take the lead, however, thirty seconds into the second-half when Scott found Charles inside the box who fired past Chapman to complete the turnaround.

Hereford thought they had found an equaliser in the 52nd minute when Robinson headed home from a corner but the goal was chalked off for a push on defender Mark Haines.

The non-league step three hosts would extend their advantage on 63 minutes when half-time substitute Jack Roberts pulled the ball back from by-line before seeing the ball deflect into the Hereford net.

Andy Williams reduced the deficit with 15 minutes to go when Ahkeem Rose flicked a long ball into the path of the striker to slot home from 10 yards and provide hope for the visitors.

Bishop’s Stortford nearly doubled their lead once more, though, when they caught their opponents on the break but a fine triple save from Chapman to deny Charles, Brad Russell and Roberts kept the deficit to one goal.

Hereford were inches away from forcing a replay in the 85th minute when Williams' cross found Ceesay in the area, but he could only send his effort just wide of the post.

Hereford: Chapman, Robinson, Howkins (Williams 63), Preston, Hudson, Matwasa (Tilt 53), D'Ath (Teixeira 66), Campbell, Ceesay, Rooney, Rose

Unused subs: Horton, Derricott