Hereford virtually scotched their relegation anxieties with an overwhelming revenge victory over Forest Green in the Nationwide Conference on Easter Monday.

Second-half goals by strikers Gavin Williams and Garry Cook and central defenders Stuart Evans and Ian Wright sent Forest Green tumbling to their heaviest defeat of the campaign.

Since pipping Hereford 2-1 at The Lawn at Christmas, Rovers had suffered just one reverse, whereas United had only two victories to their credit.

But this time the South Gloucestershire club were no match for a resurgent Bulls.

United director of football Graham Turner's first reaction to his side's win was one of relief.

He said: "It was vital for us to collect three points. We should be safe now, but will be taking nothing for granted and will be aiming for another win here against Kingstonian.

"I was well satisfied with our performance and the manner of our victory. Apart from a 10-minute spell just before half-time, we were always the dominant team."

Although Hereford enjoyed the bulk of the first-half play, they were unable to create any clear-cut chances.

Seven minutes after the interval, however, they broke the deadlock. Danny Bailey cleared a header from the commanding Wright off the line but the ball spiralled up to John Snape. His looping header looked about to cross the goalline when Williams nipped in to apply the finishing touch.

In the 56th minute Hereford struck again. Robbie Dennison drove the ball straight at Cook who swivelled quickly to send a shot zipping past keeper Justin Shuttlewood into the net.

Bailey, who had previously been booked for a foul on Williams, floored Paul Parry in the 83rd minute and was promptly sent off by referee A Penn.

Parry punished him further by landing the resultant free-kick at the feet of Evans who seized his chance to fire the ball into the net for his first goal for Hereford.

In injury time Wright advanced upfield for a Parry corner, outjumped Rovers' defence and powered a header, which took a slight deflection off substitute Steven Cowe, past the helpless Suttleworth.

United's Chris Lane and Rovers' Jason Drysdale both received yellow cards for fouls.

Hereford: Quy, Lane, Evans, Wright, Rodgerson, Taylor (Cowe 84 mins), Snape, Dennison, Parry, Cook (Roberts 78 mins), Williams. Sub not used: Dyer.