INJURY-hit Hereford lost for the second successive week, with their latest reverse coming at Stoke-on-Trent.

The Wyesiders played with 14 men for 50 minutes after Lloyd Willcocks was sent off but, despite a spirited display, eventually lost the Midlands 1 West game.

“I am proud of the way the boys responded to playing a man short for most of the game," said Hereford coach Bob Stewart.

"We matched Stoke in all aspects of play before in the final minutes they made their extra man count.

"The forwards in particular put in a tremendous performance after Lloyd went off and the whole squad gave their all.”

The Wyesiders took an early lead when Matt Milson gathered a cross-kick from Dean Powell to beat the cover defence.

Powell was wide with his conversion and Stoke got back into the game with a penalty.

After conceding a number of penalties, Hereford saw Willcocks being sent off after 30 minutes for an apparent innocuous incident.

But the 14 men maintained their defensive pattern and held out until just before the break when Stoke grabbed a try that was converted.

Stoke conceded a penalty straight from the restart and Powell made no mistake, reducing the deficit to two points.

The lead changed hands when Lewis Jordan crashed over after following up Connor Sullivan's drive.

But Stoke began to make their man advantage count and regained control with a converted try.

Back came Hereford though, who claimed a great try through Leon Parsons, which Milson converted.

Stoke then received two yellow cards, but were still able to claim another converted try before going over the line again in stoppage time to seal the win.

The conversion was missed though, meaning that Hereford gained two losing bonus points.

Hereford host league leagues Stratford-upon-Avon this Saturday.