Hereford United 1 Swindon Town 2.

HEREFORD exited the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy after a dismal second-half showing failed to build on the bonus of Matt Done’s first-half opener.

The Bulls subsided after conceding an equaliser in first-half injury time, failing to make any progress in the competition for the third successive season.

Hereford boss Graham Turner made six changes with some of the fringe players getting a chance to stake their claim for regular action.

Craig Samson, Clint Easton, Done, Simon Johnson, Nick Chadwick and Dean Beckwith all returned for Tuesday’s second-round tie.

And Garry Breen, Sam Gwynne and Jack MacLeod all got a rare chance on the substitutes’ bench.

Hereford made a lively start and Moses Ashikodi flashed a shot across goal and wide in the second minute.

The Bulls continued to have the better of play and goalkeeper Peter Brezovan was quickly off his line to block a Chadwick effort.

A neat one-two between Ashikodi and Johnson saw the former Leeds man fire in a low drive which was held by the diving Brezovan.

For a period, the match then got bogged down with a series of petty fouls spoiling the flow of the play.

But Hereford still had the better of the action and deservedly took the lead on the half-hour.

Johnson’s pass sent Done away on the left to hammer in a 30-yarder which was fumbled over the line by Brezovan.

Andy Williams, who had replaced the injured Ashikodi just before the opening goal, almost added a second two minutes before the break.

The substitute raced on to Easton’s astute free-kick, rounded Brezovan and shot goalwards only for Morrison to get the ball off the line.

But in first-half injury-time, a blocked shot came back to Swindon’s Simon Cox and he rolled the ball past Samson for the equaliser.

Encouraged by their goal, Swindon had much the better of the opening phase of the second period.

A flashing shot from Michael Timlin went just past an upright while Billy Paynter was even closer with an effort from the edge of the area.

Hereford’s first real shot of the half did not arrive until the 73rd minute but Williams’ well-struck drive was well wide of the target.

Swindon should, however, have taken the lead 12 minutes from time but Cox headed Jack Smith’s cross wide from a good position six yards out.

The goal was only delayed by six minutes, however, with Anthony McNamee’s cross driven home by Lee Peacock. Samson got a hand to the ball but was unable to keep it out.

Hereford: Samson; Jackson, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Taylor; Johnson, Easton, O’Leary, Done (Hudson-Odoi, 83 min); Ashikodi (Williams, 29 min), Chadwick. Subs not used: Breen, Gwynne, MacLeod, Williams.

Swindon: Brezovan; Amankwaah, Ifil, Morrison, Smith; Easton, Nalis (McNamee, 77 min), Peacock, Timlin; Cox (McGovern, 90 min), Paynter (Corr, 73 min). Subs not used: Smith, Casal.

Referee: Steve Bratt (West Midlands).

Attendance: 1,458 (227 from Swindon).

Goal: Done, 30 min, 1-0; Cox, 45 min, 1-1; Peacock, 84 min, 1-2.

Yellow card: Swindon - Cox, dissent, 90 min.