Hereford were relegated from League Two despite defeating Torquay, who also missed out on automatic promotion.

Delroy Facey's header, Harry Pell's penalty and Robert Purdie's strike gave the hosts a 3-0 half-time lead.

Torquay pulled one back just 28 seconds after the restart through Ryan Jarvis from close range while Taiwo Atieno made it 3-2 from six yards out.

Hereford held on but Barnet's win at Burton meant they were relegated while Crawley took the final automatic place.

Torquay's defeat meant they slipped to fifth and they will now face Cheltenham in the play-offs. Southend - who defeated Macclesfield - finished fourth and will take on seventh-placed Crewe.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Hereford United manager Richard O'Kelly told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"We were 3-0 up and dealt with what they had to offer. What was really pleasing was how the players stuck together, how they organised themselves, and we eventually ran out winners.

"I can't fault any of the players. They've been excellent since I walked through the door.

"My emotions are all over the shop. I'm just thinking about what's happened to the football club."

Torquay United manager Martin Ling told BBC Radio Devon:

"It was a disappointing display first half, a 3-0 scoreline was harsh on us. What we did second half was take a punt, with 4-4-2 and fresh legs and we nearly pulled off a miracle.

"It felt like watching a horror movie, because we didn't play well but everything they touched turned to gold.

"The only advantage to taking on Cheltenham in the play-offs is the distance to travel. It's a West Country derby as well as a play-off game.

"We're ready mentally now, we'll have a couple of drinks tonight because we've earned it. But as of Tuesday we'll be working towards the game at Cheltenham."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Hereford United

  • 01 Bartlett
  • 05 Townsend Booked
  • 12 Purkiss
  • 19 Chambers
  • 22 Anthony Booked
  • 04 Pell
  • 06 Purdie (Stam - 65' )
  • 08 Featherstone
  • 11 Lunt (McQuilkin - 74' )
  • 17 Colbeck (Arquin - 60' )
  • 10 Facey

Substitutes

  • 24 Stam
  • 14 McQuilkin
  • 27 Clucas
  • 09 Arquin
  • 21 Barkhuizen

Torquay United

  • 01 Olejnik
  • 03 Nicholson
  • 04 Ellis
  • 06 Saah
  • 18 Oastler
  • 07 Mansell Booked
  • 10 O'Kane
  • 11 Morris
  • 19 Stevens (MacDonald - 80' )
  • 22 Lathrope (Atieno - 46' )
  • 09 Howe (Jarvis - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Rice
  • 02 Rowe-Turner
  • 21 MacDonald
  • 08 Jarvis
  • 23 Atieno
Ref: East
Att: 5,143

Match Stats

Shots

7 18

On target

4 9

Corners

3 11

Fouls

9 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:29 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +4:38

Kevin Nicholson sends in a cross.

90:00 +4:05

James McQuilkin takes a shot. Robert Olejnik makes a comfortable save.

90:00 +3:19

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Ellis on James Chambers. Free kick taken by Adam Bartlett.

90:00 +2:56

Centre by Mark Ellis, Nicky Featherstone manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +2:21

Effort from close range by Brian Saah goes wide left of the target.

90:00 +2:02

Corner taken by Kevin Nicholson, save by Adam Bartlett.

90:00 +1:04

The ball is swung over by Lee Mansell, Mark Ellis produces a right-footed shot from close range which goes wide of the right-hand post.

90:00 +0:09

Angus MacDonald delivers the ball.

89:22

Corner from right by-line taken by Kevin Nicholson.

87:40

Corner taken short by James McQuilkin.

86:59

Angus MacDonald challenges Delroy Facey unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ben Purkiss.

86:22

Yoann Arquin has a shot on goal from outside the box which misses right.

84:51

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Adam Bartlett.

84:10 Booking

Booking Byron Anthony booked for unsporting behaviour.

84:05 Booking

Booking Lee Mansell is booked.

82:52

A cross is delivered by Kevin Nicholson, Ian Morris challenges Adam Bartlett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adam Bartlett takes the indirect free kick.

82:33

Kevin Nicholson takes a shot. Blocked by Ben Purkiss.

81:03

Unfair challenge on James McQuilkin by Eunan O'Kane results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Bartlett.

80:58

Joe Oastler delivers the ball, Stefan Stam makes a clearance.

79:16 Substitution

Substitution Danny Stevens leaves the field to be replaced by Angus MacDonald.

77:25

Harry Pell fouled by Lee Mansell, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Bartlett.

76:49

Centre by Yoann Arquin, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Delroy Facey misses to the right of the target.

71:58 Substitution

Substitution James McQuilkin comes on in place of Kenny Lunt.

71:58

Foul by Kenny Lunt on Joe Oastler, free kick awarded. Kevin Nicholson takes the indirect free kick.

71:41

Kevin Nicholson takes a shot. Save by Adam Bartlett.

71:16

Corner taken left-footed by Kevin Nicholson to the near post, Delroy Facey manages to make a clearance.

71:10

Joe Oastler delivers the ball, Stefan Stam manages to make a clearance.

70:13

A cross is delivered by Eunan O'Kane.

67:10

The ball is swung over by Yoann Arquin.

66:35

Effort on goal by Ian Morris from deep inside the area goes harmlessly over the bar.

64:21 Substitution

Substitution Stefan Stam on for Robert Purdie.

64:21

Delroy Facey is caught offside. Robert Olejnik takes the free kick.

63:55

Unfair challenge on Robert Purdie by Lee Mansell results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kenny Lunt.

63:35

Foul by Eunan O'Kane on Kenny Lunt, free kick awarded. Byron Anthony restarts play with the free kick.

62:35

Assist on the goal came from Kevin Nicholson.

62:35 Goal scored

Goal - Taiwo Atieno - Hereford 3 - 2 Torquay Taiwo Atieno finds the net with a goal from close range high into the middle of the goal. Hereford 3-2 Torquay.

61:59

Kenny Lunt challenges Eunan O'Kane unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kevin Nicholson sends in a cross,

59:38 Substitution

Substitution Yoann Arquin joins the action as a substitute, replacing Joe Colbeck.

59:05

Joe Oastler delivers the ball, clearance made by Michael Townsend.

58:01

A cross is delivered by Kevin Nicholson.

56:30

Corner taken by Kevin Nicholson, comfortable save by Adam Bartlett.

55:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Harry Pell on Ian Morris. Free kick crossed left-footed by Kevin Nicholson from right channel, clearance made by Delroy Facey.

55:31

Kevin Nicholson crosses the ball.

54:35

Corner taken by Eunan O'Kane from the left by-line, Close range header by Ryan Jarvis misses to the right of the target.

54:24

Eunan O'Kane takes a shot. Blocked by James Chambers.

53:54

The ball is sent over by Ryan Jarvis, Harry Pell manages to make a clearance.

52:02

Inswinging corner taken by Eunan O'Kane from the left by-line, Taiwo Atieno takes a shot. Blocked by James Chambers.

52:43

The ball is sent over by Nicky Featherstone.

52:02

Corner taken right-footed by Eunan O'Kane.

51:37

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Kevin Nicholson.

51:17

A cross is delivered by Danny Stevens, Taiwo Atieno takes a shot. Adam Bartlett makes a fantastic save.

50:41

Kevin Nicholson sends in a cross, clearance by James Chambers.

48:46

Centre by Ian Morris, Michael Townsend makes a clearance.

48:28

A cross is delivered by Ian Morris, Michael Townsend makes a clearance.

47:52

Foul by Harry Pell on Brian Saah, free kick awarded. Robert Olejnik takes the free kick.

45:14

The assist for the goal came from Joe Oastler.

45:14 Goal scored

Goal - Ryan Jarvis - Hereford 3 - 1 Torquay Goal scored by Ryan Jarvis from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Hereford 3-1 Torquay.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Rene Howe goes off and Ryan Jarvis comes on.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Damon Lathrope leaves the field to be replaced by Taiwo Atieno.

45:00 +2:17 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +2:05

Eunan O'Kane crosses the ball.

45:00 +0:12

Joe Oastler produces a cross, Kenny Lunt makes a clearance.

44:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Joe Colbeck on Kevin Nicholson. Direct free kick taken by Eunan O'Kane.

43:55

The ball is sent over by Kevin Nicholson.

42:51

Corner taken right-footed by Eunan O'Kane from the right by-line, Brian Saah takes a shot. Save by Adam Bartlett.

42:20

The referee penalises Harry Pell for handball. Free kick crossed left-footed by Kevin Nicholson.

39:59

Assist on the goal came from Harry Pell.

39:59 Goal scored

Goal - Robert Purdie - Hereford 3 - 0 Torquay A goal is scored by Robert Purdie from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Hereford 3-0 Torquay.

37:25

Inswinging corner taken by Eunan O'Kane, Rene Howe takes a shot. Inswinging corner taken by Kevin Nicholson. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Delroy Facey by Brian Saah. Adam Bartlett restarts play with the free kick.

36:46

Eunan O'Kane takes the inswinging corner, Rene Howe takes a shot. Kenny Lunt gets a block in.

35:57 Goal scored

Goal - Harry Pell - Hereford 2 - 0 Torquay Harry Pell scores a power penalty. Hereford 2-0 Torquay.

34:31

Penalty awarded for an unfair challenge on Robert Purdie by Lee Mansell.

34:05

Kevin Nicholson produces a cross, clearance by Robert Purdie.

33:28

James Chambers sends in a cross, save made by Robert Olejnik.

32:29

Ian Morris has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.

32:07

A cross is delivered by Eunan O'Kane, Ben Purkiss manages to make a clearance.

31:30

Brian Saah fouled by Joe Colbeck, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Brian Saah.

30:31

Lee Mansell produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

29:07

Rene Howe is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Adam Bartlett takes the indirect free kick.

26:11

Lee Mansell takes the direct free kick, The ball is crossed by Kevin Nicholson.

26:11 Booking

Booking Michael Townsend is shown a yellow card.

26:05

Unfair challenge on Rene Howe by Michael Townsend results in a free kick.

25:25

Ian Morris produces a cross.

22:26

Free kick awarded for a foul by Byron Anthony on Rene Howe. Direct free kick taken by Joe Oastler.

20:14

The ball is delivered by Joe Oastler.

19:52

Damon Lathrope produces a cross.

18:12

Inswinging corner taken by Kenny Lunt, The ball is delivered by Nicky Featherstone.

18:06

The ball is delivered by Robert Purdie, clearance by Lee Mansell.

17:13

The ball is delivered by Kenny Lunt, Robert Olejnik makes a comfortable save.

16:33

Harry Pell fouled by Damon Lathrope, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Byron Anthony.

15:55

Joe Colbeck has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

15:29

The referee blows for offside against Rene Howe. Adam Bartlett takes the indirect free kick.

15:16

The ball is crossed by Kevin Nicholson.

14:33

The ball is delivered by Ben Purkiss, Delroy Facey takes a shot. Lee Mansell manages to make a clearance.

10:41

Assist by Robert Purdie.

10:41 Goal scored

Goal - Delroy Facey - Hereford 1 - 0 Torquay Delroy Facey scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Hereford 1-0 Torquay.

10:36

Robert Purdie crosses the ball,

10:30

Robert Purdie crosses the ball, clearance by Ian Morris.

10:09

Foul by Joe Oastler on Harry Pell, free kick awarded. James Chambers takes the free kick.

9:10

Corner taken right-footed by Kenny Lunt, save made by Robert Olejnik.

8:00

Rene Howe is caught offside. Free kick taken by Adam Bartlett.

6:58

Eunan O'Kane sends in a cross, save made by Adam Bartlett.

6:19

Rene Howe fouled by Harry Pell, the ref awards a free kick. Kevin Nicholson delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Adam Bartlett makes a save.

5:20

Danny Stevens has an effort at goal from the edge of the box that misses to the right of the target.

3:10

Effort from the edge of the area by Kevin Nicholson goes wide of the right-hand post.

1:24

A cross is delivered by Joe Oastler, blocked by Nicky Featherstone.

1:13

The ball is swung over by Mark Ellis.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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