Hereford United 1 Leicester City 3.

HEREFORD’S hopes of regaining some end-of-season pride with some good results against the better sides were snuffed out as Leicester moved to the brink of promotion with a comfortable win.

The Bulls had taken the lead through Steve Guinan’s penalty but were let down again by their own defensive shortcomings.

Hereford’s injury crisis showed no signs of abating; neither Josh Gowling or Dean Beckwith were fit and so boss Graham Turner announced an unchanged side.

This meant that Jennison Myrie-Williams, who was withdrawn at half-time in the previous match against Brighton, retained his place with Matt Done on the substitutes’ bench.

Leicester forced a couple of corners in the opening exchanges.

Both were taken by City skipper Matt Oakley but neither came to anything with Bulls keeper Peter Gulacsi easily gathering the first and Andy King heading the second a long way wide.

Gulacsi showed his quality, though, in the 13th minute with an excellent save at the expense of another corner when Lloyd Dyer fired in a fierce drive.

A couple of other flag-kicks followed without the Hereford defence being unduly troubled on either occasion.

The Hereford attack was kept in check for much of the first 25 minutes but a smart interchange between loan wingers Jennison Myrie-Williams and Marc Pugh allowed the latter to get clear, although his cross was blocked.

Somewhat against the run of play, Hereford took the lead in the 28th minute.

A good pass from Febian Brandy sent Myrie-Williams and his speedy run into the area was halted by a crude challenge from Joe Mattock.

Referee Karl Evans awarded a penalty and Guinan coolly chipped the spot-kick into the top corner of the net.

Six minutes later, Foxes leading scorer was fouled on the corner of the penalty area by Bulls skipper Karl Broadhurst.

With everyone expecting a cross, Oakley whipped in a fierce drive which flew into the corner of the net.

Hereford forced their first corner of the game in first-half injury time but Pugh’s cross came to nothing.

Leicester made a lively start to the second half but had only an off-target shot from Andy King as an end-product to their endeavours in the first five minutes.

Hereford’s Pugh embarked on a 50-yard to the edge of the Leicester area but, sadly for Hereford, his finish did not match the approach-work and the shot went wide.

With Leicester looking the more threatening, Oakley had the ball in the net after 54 minutes but was clearly offside at the time.

Hereford, who were being allowed some space to play football, had some good moments, though, and Guinan’s excellent overhead kick was only inches away from restoring the Bulls’ lead.

But Hereford’s good work was undone by a horrid blunder by full-back Richard Jackson.

The full-back was under no pressure to clear but delayed getting the ball away to such an extent that his clearance hit Dyer and ballooned into the air.

Gulacsi was able to get little power on his punch which landed at the feet of Steve Howard.

The striker lifted the ball goalwards where Jackson headed on to the bar for Dyer to crack in the rebound.

Four minutes from time the points were sealed when substitute Max Gradel went past Kris Taylor as if he wasn’t there and pulled the ball back for Steve Howard to sidefoot home.

Hereford: Gulacsi; Jackson, Rose, Broadhurst, Taylor; Myrie-Williams, Smith, Diagouraga, Pugh (Done, 75 min); Guinan, Brandy (Johnson, 78 min). Subs not used: Veiga, Gwynne, O’Leary.

Leicester: Stockdale; Morrison, Hobbs, Brown, Mattock; Oakley, King, Berner (Graqdel, 62 min), Dyer (Ajdarevic, 90 min; Howard, Fryatt (Dickov, 85 min). Subs not used: Warner, Kisnorbo.

Referee: Karl Evans (Greater Manchester).

Attendance: 4,389 (1,924 from Leicester).

Yellow cards: Leicester – King, simulation, 72 min; Dyer, over-zealous celebration, 74 min.

Goals: Guinan pen, 28 min, 1-0; Oakley, 34 min, 1-1; Dyer, 74 min, 1-2; Howard, 86 min, 1-3..