Hereford United 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 WOLVES’ superior finishing brought them a comfortable win at Edgar Street.

Hereford were pressed back in the early stages and suffered a blow when they lost skipper Karl Broadhurst with only nine minutes played.

The former Bournemouth defender fell heavily in a collision with a Wolves defender and was led from the field with what appeared to be a shoulder or collar-bone injury.

Despite this setback, which brought an early introduction for Garry Breen, Hereford took the lead on 16 minutes.

Bradley Hudson-Odoi was brought down by Jody Craddock after racing on to a neat pass from Steve Guinan who scored from the resulting penalty.

The Bulls held their lead until the 31st minute when Daniel Jones’ cross was volleyed home ferociously by Michael Kightly.

And only a fine save from Craig Samson prevented Chris Iwelumo from sending the visitors in at the interval in front.

But the completely revised Wolves line-up did take the lead two minutes into the second period with a well-struck shot from Stephen Ward.

Ward scored again 15 minutes from time, rifling home after Darren Randolph had saved brilliantly from Matt Jarvis.

And Sylvan Ebanks-Blake rattled the bar with a 15-yard shot in the 80th minute.

Hereford: Samson (Randolph, 70 min); Hunt (Reid, 46 min), Beckwith (Triallist, 53 min), Broadhurst (Breen, 9 min), Rose (Threlfall, 46 min); Johnson (McLeod, 46 min), Easton (Taylor, 46 min), Diagouraga (Webb, 78 min), Done (Jones, 78 min); Guinan (Triallist, 65 min), Hudson-Odoi (Triallist, 71 min).

Wolves first-half: Hennessey; Foley, Elokobi, Craddock, Stearman, Kightly, Daniel Jones, Henry, Edwards, Iwelumo, Keogh.

Wolves second-half: Ikeme; Little (Lee Collins, 84 min), Harte, Darren Ward, Neil Collins, Gray (Bennett, 84 min), Davies, David Jones, Jarvis, Stephen Ward, Ebanks-Blake.

Referee: O Langford.

Attendance: 1,538 (570 from Wolverhampton).