Hereford fell to a 3-0 defeat away to Oxford City.

The hosts took the lead just before half-time through Josh Ashby after Matt Preston was sent off.

Tom Scott then made it two just past the hour mark before Jack Bearne got the third late on.

After the loss, the Bulls dropped to 18th whilst the Hoops remained in 23rd.

Paul Caddis made three changes to the side that drew to Curzon Ashton with debutant Callum McFarlane, Remaye Campbell and Lewis Hudson coming in for Andy Williams, I-Lani Edwards and Keenan Quansah.

Ross Jenkins named an unchanged lineup to the one that lost to Bedford Town, with Ashby captaining the side and former Hereford forward DJ Campton-Sturridge on the bench.

After a scrappy start, the hosts came close in the eighth minute when Ewan Clark hit the post directly from an in-swinging corner from the right.

Hereford had their first big chance in the 15th minute when McFarlane intercepted a poor pass, he then played Sam Osborne in on goal, who struck the far post with a left-footed effort.

Osborne had another great opportunity three minutes later, this time he created it for himself when he picked up the ball on the halfway line and took it all the way into the box, but he dragged it wide.

The Bulls kept up the pressure in the 25th minute when Michael Parker worked the ball onto his right foot, he then hit a speculative effort which went narrowly wide.

Jenkins’ side came close in the 34th minute when Ashby latched onto a poor pass back, he took it around Theo Richardson, but he could only hit the side netting from a tight angle.

On the cusp of half-time, a long ball in behind put Josh Parker one-on-one with Richardson, Preston then brought him down, for which he was awarded a second yellow card and sent off.

Ashby then wrapped the subsequent free-kick around the wall and into the bottom right corner to give the Hoops the lead going into the break.

The home side nearly got an early goal in the second 45 when Clark was picked out at the back post, but his header was clawed off the line by Richardson with a fantastic save.

Despite being a man down, the Bulls did ask questions of the Hoops’ defence in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, without testing Lewis in goal.

In the 63rd minute, Parker tripped over and gifted the ball to Scott, who slotted it past Richardson to make it two.

Charlie Cooper nearly pulled one back with a spectacular effort in the 69th minute when the ball dropped to him on the corner of the box from a long throw, he then blasted a half-volley just over the bar.

Jenkins’ side made it three late on when Isaac Westendorf flicked it in behind to Bearne, who placed it through the legs of Richardson.

The Bulls pushed for a consolation goal with Williams and Osborne both coming close, but they were unable to find one.

Hereford FC XI- T. Richardson, O. Sterling-James, K. Howkins, M. Preston, M. Parker, L. Hudson, G. Mafuta (I. Edwards 72’), C. Cooper, S. Osborne, C. McFarlane (E. Nto 72’), R. Campbell (A. Williams 72’)

Unused Subs- K. Quansah, M. Richards, L. D’Ath, H. Hamilton

Oxford City XI- S. Lewis, J. Roddy, J. Ashby, C. Francis, C. Wiggett, J. Parker, T. Scott, E. Clark (I. Westendorf 70’), G. Burroughs, L. Humphrey-Ewers, G. Maragh (J. Bearne 83’)

Unused Subs- M. Treml, D. Johnson, DJ Campton-Sturridge, A. Potter, J. McConnell