TWO goals in three minutes towards the end of the first half effectively ended Hereford's involvement in this year's LDV Vans Trophy on Tuesday.

Up until Jamie Cureton gave the Royals a 36th-minute lead with a stunning strike, Hereford had matched their Second Division opponents in the second round tie.

But a second goal from Jimmy McIntyre three minutes later put the game beyond their reach, despite Gavin Williams' 70th-minute consolation.

Things might have been different if the talented Williams had capped the Bulls' lively opening with the goal they deserved after 22 minutes.

The youngster raced on to an excellent pass by veteran Ian Rodgerson and was clear of the defence when he tried to cut in to get the ball on to his right foot. But he lost control and the chance was gone.

This was the best of a number of openings created by Hereford in the first 35 minutes. Other notable efforts came from the industrious John Snape and skipper Ian Wright, who did well to win the ball from a Michael McIndoe corner only to see it trickle across goal without any Hereford player able to get the necessary finishing touch.

But, after 36 minutes, Hereford were shown emphatically how to put the ball in the net. Cureton took a pass from Darren Caskey and smashed a right-foot shot from 15 yards past goalkeeper Scott Cooksey who had no chance of saving.

Hereford's defence might, however, question just how Tony Rougier was able to burst into the penalty area with such ease to cross for McIntyre to slide home at the far post three minutes later.

In the opening exchanges of the second half, Reading were so dominant that the game seemed to be well beyond the home side. But just when most thoughts were turning to Saturday's FA Umbro Trophy tie with Dover, suddenly the Bulls were back in the game.

Adrian Viveash attempted to find Scott Howie with a back pass but the keeper had advanced to meet his defender and the ball trickled past him and goalwards for Williams to nip in and net from a narrow angle.

Two minutes later, Williams' cross from the right just eluded McIndoe when an equaliser seemed possible. But after this Reading looked the more likely scorers, their best opportunity denied by James Wall who redeemed himself by blocking a Rougier shot after his mistake had gifted the opportunity to the striker in the first place.

Hereford: Cooksey, Rodgerson, Sturgess, Robinson, Wright, Wall, Gardiner, Snape, Elmes (Giddings 67 mins), Williams, McIndoe. Subs not used: Quiggin, Baker, Hanson, Moran.

Reading: Howie, Viveash, Hunter, Murty, Caskey, Jones, Cureton (Henderson 68 mins), Igoe (Gurney 89 mins), McIntyre, Gray, Rougier. Subs not used: Whitehead, Mackie, Haddow.

Referee: P Rejer (Tipton).

Attendance: 1,693.

Chris Lane sale: Sport 1