HEREFORD’S winning home run came to an abrupt end as title hopefuls Scunthorpe United recorded an impressive 5-1 win at Edgar Street.

Danny Whitehall gave Scunthorpe an early lead before Michael Kelly added a second soon after. Jacob Butterfield’s brace made it 0-4 before half-time and despite Jason Cowley’s 61st minute goal, Callum Roberts’ corner deflected off Paul Downing for a fifth goal.

An early chance fell Hereford’s way when Yusifu Ceesay charged down goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons, but Cowley was unable to convert the ricochet before Will Evans cleared the ball.

Adam Livingstone rounded Fitzsimons in the eighth minute after the goalkeeper had charged out of his goal, but the Bulls’ full-back was unable to finish before the covering Max Kougon mopped up the danger.

The Iron went in front on the 11th minute after a pass from Ollie Southern was blocked and although Pond managed to stop the looping ball from crossing the line he was unable to stop Whitehall scoring from the rebound.

Scunthorpe doubled their lead six minutes later after Hereford failed to clear their lines, allowing the ball to fall to Kelly inside the box who rifled the ball home.

The visitors added a third in the 44th minute after a counter-attack saw Kian Scales drive with the ball before feeding Butterfield who finished emphatically through the legs of Pond.

Butterfield soon had his second of the match in first half stoppage time when his fine strike from the edge of the box flew into the bottom corner of Pond’s net to make it 4-0 at half-time.

Cowley provided the Bulls a glimmer of hope on the hour mark after Ceesay fed the striker inside the box before his swift turn and snapshot found the corner of the net.

Hereford had momentum and were awarded a penalty in the 77th minute after Micheal Clunan was penalised for a handball, but Fitzsimons produced a fine save to deny Cowley’s spot kick.

Scunthorpe scored their fifth of the afternoon in the 88th minute when Roberts’ corner was missed by Pond before striking Downing and ending up in the net.

Hereford: Pond, Skinner, Livingstone (Tolley 72), Teixeira (Freemantle 73), Downing, Ceesay, Babos, Cowley, Cranston, Mendes, Southern

Unused Subs: Rooney, Arthur, Cameron