Colchester condemned Hereford to League Two football next season with a 2-0 victory at Edgar Street.
Hereford succumb to the drop after home defeat
Colchester condemned Hereford to League Two football next season with a 2-0 victory at Edgar Street.
Midfielder Mark Yeates, who had hit the post in the early stages, set up Colchester's win with a curling free-kick past the Hereford three-man wall and into the roof of the net after 35 minutes.
United went further ahead six minutes later when Hereford centre-back Dean Beckwith deflected a sharp cross from Yeates past goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi and into the net.
Hereford's best effort in the first period came from Kris Taylor but his 20-yard drive was wide of the upright.
After the break Colchester continued to call the tune with Simon Hackney bursting into the area before shooting over the crossbar.
The visitors never looked like relaxing their grip on the game and deserved their victory over a Hereford side who have now lost 28 league games this season.
