For fans and players' reaction to Hereford United's relegation from the Football League, watch this six-minute Hereford Times video:
http://www.herefordtimes.com/video/
A SENSATIONAL first-half show at Edgar Street which brought goals from Delroy Facey, Harry Pell and Rob Purdie put the Bulls in cotrol at the interval.
And with news that Burton had levelled against Barnet at the Pirelli, United maintained their tenuous grip on their Football League place.
Hereford showed a few signs of early nerves as Torquay pushed forward.
Adam Bartlett shanked a couple of clearances into touch before a drive from Kevin Nicholson flew high over.
And Danny Stevens followed suit moments later after Kenny Lunt gave the ball away in midfield.
A couple of strong punches by Bartlett relieved more pressure with Hereford staging a brief counter which ended with Nicky Featherstone finding touch rather than Rob Purdie with a raking pass.
Hereford forced the first corner on 10 minutes.
Lunt’s cross went straight into the arms of keeper Robert Olejnik.
Hereford were in front, though moments later.
Purdie did superbly on the right and crossed for Facey whose header from close range beat Olejnik.
The Bulls drew strength from their fine start and Colbeck bundled a Facey header wide after a deep cross from Ben Purkiss.
Colbeck then sliced horrible wide after getting in behind the Gulls defence.
Colbeck was in again after fine work from Facey and Purdie but Lee Mansell got back to clear for a corner which was wasted.
Torquay responded with a good spell which produced a good cross from Ian Morris.
The ball flashed through the Hereford area with Mansell just unable to get the touch.
A senseless foul by Michael Townsend on Howe cost the Hereford man a booking and brought a free-kick in a dangerous position 25 yards out.
Kevin Nicholson got in a shot but the ball was charged down by Colbeck.
Then a flicked header from Mansell from a cross by Danny Stevens drifted just past a post.
Morris kept up the barrage with a left-foot drive which swerved wide of the target.
On 35 minutes, Hereford won a penalty when Purdie was tripped by Mansell after the skipper was sent racing into the area by Lunt’s fine pass.
Pell rolled the ball as calm as you like past Olejnik.
Lunt showed his worth seconds later at the other end when he got a Brian Saah header off the line from a corner.
From the next flag-kick from Nicholson, an effort from Mark Ellis was cleared off the line.
Finally, Bartlett managed to grab the ball to bring a roar of relief from the Meadow End.
Five minutes before the break, United were three up.
Pell’s shot was blocked by a defender and Purdie’s superb strike nestled in the corner of the net.
Torquay looked shell-shocked but continued to press forward and, a couple of minutes before the break, Bartlett was forced to his knees to grasp the ball after another Gulls corner.
