A MARK Yeates free-kick and Dean Beckwith's own goal placed Colchester firmly in control over Hereford at half-time.

Hereford were fortunate not to fall behind within the first two minutes.

Kris Taylor gave the ball away to Mark Yeates in midfield and the Colchester man advanced before cracking in a shot which thudded against the outside of a post before rebounding to safety.

It was the home side, however, who did the majority of the early attacking and Myrie-Williams twice broke into the area without being able to deliver a telling cross.

Guinan’s fine pass sent Marc P)ugh racing to the bye-line but his cross was easily held by keeper Dean Gerken.

Colchester responded with long-range efforts from Akanni Suday-Wasiu and Kem Izzet which ended wide of the target.

On 32 minutes, Taylor’s weak header sold Gulacsi short as Vincent raced in but the keeper did well to chest the ball clear.

But Gulacsi was left grasping at air a minute late as a shot from Alan Maybury flew inches wide of an upright.

The visitors took the lead nine minutes before the break as Hereford proved vulnerable from dead-ball situations yet again.

Gwynne was pulled up for a foul on Wasiu and Yeates curled a shot around the defensive wall and past Gulacsi.

Yeates was heavily involved when Colchester extended their lead three minutes before the interval.

He fired in a cross from the right and the ball skimmed off Beckwith’s head and into the net.