A DEPLETED Hereford-shire finished second bottom in Pool 6 of the Men's Hockey County Championship in Wilt-shire.

The county started the section brightly, recording an impressive win over the hosts, Wiltshire, in their opening match but that was to prove their only victory in their four-match campaign.

Wiltshire opened the scoring midway through the first half but Herefordshire responded swiftly when Richard Wood equalised with a deflected strike.

Herefordshire stuck to their task in the second half and finally got a deserved winner when a Neil Toulson shot was parried and Rob Goodman slotted home.

The county's biggest defeat was a 4-1 reverse to competition runners-up Berkshire in their second match. David Harvey notched a late consolation goal for Hereford-shire after a neat through ball from Jon Morgan.

Herefordshire, though, performed much better than their final position would suggest because they lost two matches by the odd goal.

Ian Gwilliam had an excellent tournament at the heart of the Herefordshire defence, while midfielder Morgan and youngsters Jonathon Mundy and Tom Clarke also performed very well.

Herefordshire gave the eventual group winners Somerset a good run for their money and were the better side for long periods before eventually going down 3-2.

Trailing 2-0 at the break, Herefordshire hit back through Colin Amos, who powered the ball into the bottom corner, and they drew level from a well-worked penalty corner routine, with Goodman's flick finished off by Harvey.

The match appeared to be heading for a draw until Somerset grabbed the winning goal in the final 10 minutes.

Herefordshire slipped to an exciting 5-4 defeat against bottom-placed Cornwall, despite forcing a succession of short corners and leading three times in the match. Goodman (2), Amos and Toulson scored Hereford-shire's goals.

l Herefordshire squad: Jim Wallis (Hereford), Steve Goode (Leomin-ster), Richard Edwards (Hereford), Ian Gwilliam (Hereford), Rob Goodman (Leominster), Jon Morgan (Leominster), Richard Wood (Hereford), Colin Amos (Hereford), Simon Williams (Blandford), Neil Toulson (Staines), David Harvey (Leominster), Tom Clarke (Hereford), James Dunn (Leomin-ster), Jonathon Mundy (Hereford), Mark Allen (Hereford).