NEW signing Wayne Sutton made his debut as a 79th-minute substitute as Hereford coasted through to the second round of the Coca-Cola Cup with a solid display.

Sutton, a six-foot 20-year-old midfielder or defender, was signed on a month's loan from Derby County this week and given the chance of an early run-out in the cup game.

Hereford went through 4-1 on aggregate but one unfortunate player is unlikely to have been celebrating. Keith Downing was the victim of an extraordinary sending off decision in the last minute. Harshly booked in the 18th minute, he received a second yellow card and consequently a red one for supposed deliberate hand ball. But he was in midfield, well away from any danger area, and the ball simply appeared to bounce off his upper arm.

Under the new disciplinary rules, he will now be banned from Hereford's two matches in the next round. But that was the only problem for United as they successfully defended their 3-0 first-leg lead.

Cambridge did not get a shot on target until the second half when they were 4-0 down on aggregate and reduced to 10 men. Dean Smith fired Hereford in front from the penalty spot in the 50th minute after Adrian Foster had been tripped by centre-back Lee Palmer, an offence which earned a red card for the defender. For 10 minutes after that, playing with complete freedom with an unassailable lead, Hereford should have added to their score.

Cambridge pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute when Dave Thompson side-footed home from close range.

Hereford: DeBont, Norton, Brough, Fishlock, Smith, Townsend, Stoker (Sutton 79 mins), Downing, A. Foster, Hargreaves (I. Foster 77 mins), Mahon. Sub not used: MacKenzie.

Attendance: 1,164.