HEREFORD are left with just the Nationwide Conference promotion race in their sights after bowing out of the FA Trophy in disappointing fashion at Edgar Street.

After the Bulls' fine Conference win against Cambridge in mid-week, Bulls chief Graham Turner decided on a number of changes for the Trophy clash.

But the new-look side, which showed six fresh faces, never really gelled and the Bulls were rarely able to provide serious trouble for Ashley Bayes in the visitors' goal.

And to make matters worse, it was a defensive blunder which brought the Essex side's winner on the hour.

With the Hereford defence occupied at the near post, no-one picked up Michael Kightly as he arrived in space at the far post to half-volley Stuart Thurgood's corner sweetly past Craig Mawson.

Although Grays themselves had four changes forced upon them through illness and injury, the visitors settled much more quickly than the home side and only two fine early saves by Mawson prevented an early goal.

In the sixth minute, the Bulls keeper was quickly off his line to foil Aaron McLean after Alex Jeannin's slip let the Grays forward in.

Then, six minutes later, Mawson again reacted quickly to race forward and block Thurgood's effort as the visitors' skipper raced into the area.

Thurgood's drive then flashed just past a post before Mawson again came off his line to collect well as Jamie Slabber bore down on a loose ball.

But after the half's mid-way point, Hereford started to pose a threat and had a couple of chances to take the lead.

New signing Stuart Fleetwood skipped clear and only a fine save by Bayes from his angled drive prevented the Bulls from going in front.

Then Craig Stanley's fiercely-struck 30-yarder made Hereford hearts pound a little faster as it flashed inches over the bar.

Hereford's good spell extended to the start of the second period when they forced a couple of early corners.

But what had seemed promising became an uphill struggle after Kightly's goal.

Hereford almost immediately introduced three substitutes, Andy Ferrell, Danny Carey-Bertram and Adam Stansfield, into the fray but even these changes failed to produce the missing spark.

The well-organised Grays defence kept the Hereford attack well under control and only a couple of chances were created in the closing stages.

Andy Williams rose well to Alex Jeannin's free-kick but his flicked header flashed wide of the far post.

Then, eight minutes from time, Carey-Bertram fired in a shot which took a deflection to Stansfield but the former Yeovil man was unable to get sufficient power behind his header to trouble Bayes.

Hereford: Mawson, Green, James, Mkandawire, Jeannin, Taylor (Carey-Bertram 63), Purdie, Stanley (Ferrell 63), Nicolau, Williams, Fleetwood (Stansfield 63). Subs (not used): Beckwith, Coldicott.

Attendance: 1,609.