CARDIFF City brought Hereford's brave FA Cup run to an end at Edgar Street with a hard-fought fourth round win.

Kevin McNaughton opened the scoring for the visitors in first-half injury-time before earning the penalty for Steve Thompson to extend the lead after the break. Theo Robinson pulled a goal back for the Bulls but it was not enough.

Hereford, despite their 4-0 pummeling at Chesterfield last Monday, announced an unchanged line-up.

Cardiff relegated veteran striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to the substitutes' bench with Thompson included in his place. Former Bulls' hero Paul Parry almost made a dramatic return when his on-target shot was turned around the post by Wayne Brown after just 90 seconds.

But after that, it was Hereford who had the better of the opening exchanges with some lively attacking play.

Parry lost some of the goodwill shown to him by the Hereford crowd with a rash challenge on Trent McClenahan which brought a yellow card. But the Wales international continued to pose a threat with a couple of shots which lacked power and failed to trouble Brown.

Cardiff wasted a great chance to take the lead on 20 minutes when full-back McNaughton got around the back of the Bulls' defence.

But the Bluebirds man wasted the chance by firing into the side-netting when he should have crossed.

At the other end, Hereford started to create chances and a fierce drive by Theo Robinson was pushed away for a corner by goalkeeper Michael Oakes. Then Toumani Diagouraga played in Ben Smith but the Bulls skipper had the ball taken off his toes for a corner as he rounded Oakes.

But in first-half injury-time, a Tony Capaldi throw was only half-cleared and McNaughton lashed a shot through a crowd of players and into the net. Hereford needed an early boost at the start of the second period and came close to getting it when Lee Collins' flicked header from a Kris Taylor free-kick brought a diving save from Oakes. Cardiff quickly got back into their stride and Brown had to save well from Thompson after Joe Ledley played him in.

But the Bluebirds did extend their lead on 64 minutes when Clint Easton, who had just arrived as a substitute, felled the marauding McNaughton. Referee Andy d'Urso pointed to the spot and Thompson slid the ball into the corner of the net.

A Parry header was tipped over by Brown before Hereford gained some hope in the 75th minute.

Smith's neat pass was seized on by Robinson who rifled his 13th goal of the season past Oakes.

Cardiff, however, went close to extending their lead when Ledley raced past McClenahan but saw his cross come out off the bar.

But Hereford never gave up and Simon Johnson came close to repeating his heroics of the previous round with a late volley which flashed just wide. Diagouraga's powerful drive was well saved and Robinson's shot was beaten out by Oakes as Hereford went down with all guns blazing.

Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Beckwith, Collins, Rose, Johnson, Smith, Diagouraga, Taylor (Easton, 63 min), Benjamin (Gwynne, 68 min), Robinson. Subs not used: Ingham, McCombe, Palmer.

Referee: Andy D'Urso.

Attendance: 6,855.