TWO first-half goals by Adam Stansfield and a wonder strike by Rob Purdie gave Hereford United a deserved 3-0 win at Evesham United last night.

Bulls' boss Graham Turner chose a younger starting line-up than in the two previous games, although almost all of his squad had a run-out during the evening.

But with four games to come in five days, there were regular comings and goings in the Evesham team.

With Hereford still finding their feet, Evesham looked dangerous in the early stages and goalkeeper Ben Scott twice had to come to the Bulls' rescue.

The 20-year-old was quickly out of his goal to reach the ball just before Lee Ross from a poor Tom Smith back-pass and then raced from his area to head clear after Evesham's Danny Williams had beaten the offside trap.

But after Stansfield had profited from a mix-up in the Evesham defence to open the scoring after 10 minutes, Hereford rarely looked back.

Andy Williams and Stansfield worked an opening for David Brown which he made a mess off and Stansfield saw a header tipped on to the bar.

And their first half dominance was reflected more truly when Brown played Stansfield in to score a second four minutes before the break.

With the Hereford defence still daydreaming at the start of the second period, Mark Atkinson should have pulled a goal back for the home side but dragged his shot wide of an upright.

After that, though, it was virtually all Hereford.

The only goal, however, came on 62 minutes when Purdie raced forward and played a one-two with Sean Doxey, and volleyed in the return pass.

EVESHAM: Clarke, Smith, Pinkney (McKeon 85), Knight, Hands (Bailey 56), Watson (Hawley 66), O'Toole (Hands 73), Fitter (Rowberry 62 (Atkinson 79), Thomas, Ross (Pountney 59), D Williams (Atkinson 11 (McKintosh 73).

HEREFORD: Scott (Ding 78), N Williams (Travis 26), Robinson (Talbot 46), March, James (Mkandawire 53), Smith (Tretton 59), Hyde (Stanley 46), A Williams, Stansfield (Purdie 59), Brown (Pitman 74), Doxey (D Williams 67).

ATTENDANCE: 360.