GOALS from Joe Colbeck and skipper Michael Townsend moved Hereford clear of the League 2 relegation zone.

The Bulls produced a largely composed display and will head for Hillsborough for the big FA Cup clash on Saturday in good heart after notching their fifth straight win.

With Mathieu Manset now departed for Reading, Hereford were forced into one change for the visit of their old Conference rivals.

On-loan Jake Jervis, at Hereford for a month from Birmingham City, stepped into the Frenchman’s place alongside Stuart Fleetwood in attack.

Chris Shuker forced the first corner of the game for the Shrimps in the fourth minute.

The Hereford defence easily cleared Stewart Drummond’s flag-kick.

Both sides played neatly through midfield without causing either goalkeeper any trouble during the next phase.

Hereford looked the more promising and Jervis seized on a long pass from Janos Kovacs before seeing his drive blocked by the visitors’ defence.

After 22 minutes, Hereford came close for the first time when a cross from Heath deflected off Shuker and on to the bar before going behind for their first corner.

James McQuilkin’s flag-kick was easily cleared by the Morecambe defence and the visitors broke out with Richard Rose forced into a last-ditch challenge to put the ball out for a corner.

Jervis was slow to react when Fleetwood picked him out in the middle with an astute pass and the Morecambe defence got back to clear the danger.

Shrimps keeper Barry Roche finally had a shot to save on 35 minutes.

Joe Colbeck cut in from the left and powered in a right-foot drive from 20 yards which the visiting keeper held comfortably.

Colbeck had another effort five minutes before the break but, again, Roche saved without difficulty.

A minute before the break, it was third time lucky for the former Bradford winger.

Kenny Lunt’s pass was flicked on by Jervis to put Colbeck in the clear and he finished coolly to give Hereford the lead.

Kovacs had a chance to increase the lead in stoppage time when he showed poor control at a McQuilkin corner and the opportunity was gone.

Hereford had another good chance five minutes into the second period.

Lunt’s pass sent Fleetwood away but the striker failed to truly bring the ball under control and his weak shot was blocked away by Roche.

Three minutes later, Morecambe were back on level terms with a gift from the Hereford defence.

Nicky Featherstone failed to clear the ball and Stewart Drummond’s shot came back off Bartlett for the midfielder to score at the second attempt.

Featherstone was withdrawn shortly afterwards and, almost immediately, Hereford regained the lead.

Lunt’s pass found Colbeck on the right and he crossed for Townsend to head his first Hereford goal.

Former Bull Craig Stanley shot high over as Morecambe tried to hit back.

But Hereford continued to look more promising going forward and Jaervis drilled a low shot straight at Roche.

Morecambe’s threat could never be entirely disregarded and Shuker should have done much better, slicing horribly wide when a clear chance opened up on the edge of the area.

Rob Purdie, who had replaced Featherstone, broke forward before sending Colbeck clear in the 79th minute.

But the goalscorer, on his left foot, miskicked horribly to send the ball yards wide.

Hereford’s defence began to live dangerously and Drummond headed a good chance straight at Bartlett.

Jervis, though, could have put the game beyond doubt when he was put clear by Purdie but shot straight at Roche who blocked for a corner.

And Jervis wasted another good chance moments later, skating in on goal but shooting when the unmarked Colbeck was screaming for the ball in the middle.

Hereford: Bartlett; Rose, Kovacs, Townsend, Heath; Colbeck, Featherstone (Purdie 59), McQuilkin, Lunt; Fleetwood (Green 86), Jervis. Subs not used: Heister, Stratford, Canham, Weir, Thomas.

Morecambe: Roche; Parrish, Charnock, McCready, Capaldi (Wainwright 88); Shuker (Mullin 84), Stanley, Drummond, Wilson; Hendrie (Rundle 69), Jevons. Subs not used: Bentley, SWFleming, Haining, Walker.

Referee: Pat Miller (Bedfordshire).

Attendance: 1,831 (including 30 from Morecambe).

Goals: Colbeck, 44 min, 1-0; Drummond, 53 min, 1-1; Townsend, 59 min, 2-1; Yellow cards: Morecaambe – Shuker, foul, 65 min; Wilson, foul, 77 min;