HEREFORD’S hopes of avoiding Blue Square Premier Football are still alive after an extraordinary result at promotion-chasing Crawley.

A large crowd had turned out expecting to see the home side clinch a place in League 2.

But instead, goals from Joe Colbeck and Yoann Arquin saw the Bulls home.

With the down side, and a big one, being the win for Barnet over Wimbledon which means that the Bulls must beat Torquay next Saturday and hope that Barnet lose, to stay up.

Hereford suffered a major pre-match blow when Tom Barkhuizen, their 12-goal top-scorer was ruled out.

Joe Colbeck was called up in his place in one of only two changes from the side which drew last week against Northampton.

The other saw Harry Pell recalled to the starting line-up in place of Will Evans who was omitted from the squad.

Once again, there was no goalkeeper named among the substitutes who included James McQuilkin and Simon Clist.

There was no place for former Bull Ben Smith in the Crawley squad.

Hereford attacked from the kick-off and a cross from Colbeck flew across the Crawley box and out for a throw.

But Crawley had the ball in the net after less than two minutes when Billy Clarke volleyed in Gary Alexander’s cross only to be ruled offside.

Hereford conceded a free-kick after 11 minutes when referee Russell gave an infringement after Kyle McFadzean volleyed a shot at a Hereford player and it hit his hand at point-blank range.

Scott Davies curled his efford narrowly wide.

Delroy Facey should have done better when his knock down from Pell’s cross went straight to keeper Michel Kuipers instead of to the waiting Colbeck.

Crawley forced a couple of corners after 18 minutes and from the second, Facey and then Bartlett had to make blocks as the dangerous Claude Davis waited to pounce.

Colbeck forced a corner for Hereford at the other end but the Bulls made a mess of their corner routine with a Crawley breakaway ending as centre-back Charlie Wassmer ended up out of his comfort zone and produced a poor pass.

More woeful control by Colbeck wasted another Hereford chance.

And Crawley hit back with a third corner on 25 minutes.

This time, McFadzean volleyed well wide from the edge of the area.

Hereford continued to have a threat in attack and Nicky Featherstone had the first clear shooting opportunity on the half-hour, only to scuff his effort weakly at Kuipers.

Crawly gained a further corner on 37 minutes but Hereford again cleared the danger and broke out.

Colbeck raced clear and was met by Kuipers 20 yards clear of his area. The keeper handled the ball and referee Russell awarded a free-kick but, extraordinarily, only gave Kuipers a yellow card when a red had surely seemed the only possible decision.

Hereford conceded a corner right at the start of the second period but Hereford again cleared the danger.

The Bulls broke out and Colbeck raced away only to deliver a poor cross which was easily cleared.

McFadzean came close at the other end with a skimming drive which flew a yard wide.

Kenny Lunt almost gifted Crawley a goal with a dreadful pass which sent Clarke away but retrieved his error with a fine saving tackle.

Hereford pounced on a dreadful defensive error to take the lead on 55 minutes.

Dean Howell’s attempted back pass was spilled by Kuipers and Colbeck prodded home the loose ball.

A poor back pass by Pell put Bartlett under pressure and the keeper’s clearance only went as far as Sergio Torres whose drive from the edge of the area hit the bar and rebounded to safety.

And the Bulls were saved again on 65 minutes by a brilliant Bartlett tip-over from Scott Davies.

Ben Purkiss then pulled off a fine block to deny Scott Neilson and Facey booted the resulting corner off the line.

Fourteen minutes from time, the Crawley defence again got in a tangle and Facey prodded the ball through for Arquin to score the easiest goal he will ever get.

Crawley moved back on to the attack and Bartlett dived to save a low drive from Dannie Bulman.

Eight minutes from the end, Arquin raced through and drilled a low shot into the corner of the net.

Hereford: 4-1-3-2: Bartlett; Purkiss, Townsend, Anthony, Chambers; Featherstone; Pell, Lunt (McQuilkin 87), Purdie; Colbeck (Arquin 69), Facey (Stam 85). Subs not used: Clist, Clucas.

Crawley: 4-4-2: Kuipers; Simpson, Wassmer, Davis, Howell (Neilson 70); Davies (Akinde 83), McFadzean, Torres, Bulman; Clarke (Watt 77), Alexander. Subs not used: Shearer, Mills..

Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire).

Attendance: 4,615 (including 367 from Hereford).

Goals: Colbeck, 55 min, 0-1; Arquin, 76 min, 0-2; Arquin, 82 min, 0-3.

Yellow cards: Hereford – Purdie, foul, 43 min; Crawley – Kuipers, deliberate handball, 40 min.