A BRILLIANT hat-trick by 20-year-old striker Stuart Fleetwood enabled Hereford to add Coventry to their list of famous scalps in last night's Carling Cup tie.

The young striker's early strike set Hereford on their way and he used his searing pace to add two more after the interval when all the Championship side could manage was Dele Adebola's solitary strike.

Hereford were in front after just 48 seconds with fans still streaming into Edgar Street.

Simon Travis played a long ball forward and central defender Elliott Ward misjudged the bounce completely, allowing Fleetwood to race on and beat 'keeper Andy Marshall.

Coventry had plenty of the ball and created pressure, forcing six corners in the first period. But the Sky Blues struggled to make clear openings and the best chances came at the other end.

Fleetwood got clear in one-on-one situations twice more but slid the ball the wrong side of a post on each occasion.

And centre-back Dean Beckwith was only inches wide with a shot on the turn after Tim Sills knocked a Rob Purdie free-kick into his path.

Hereford continued in attacking vein at the start of the second period and Fleetwood seized on to a through-pass from Richard Rose, sliding the second goal past Marshall.

But the Bulls were rocked on 58 minutes when Adebola held off the challenges of Tamika Mkandawire and Trent McClenahan to loft a shot over Scott Tynan.

However, Hereford quickly regained their composure as, five minutes further on, Sills played in Fleetwood and the young striker rounded Marshall to complete a memorable treble.

Hereford finished in style to earn an excellent and completely deserved win.

Hereford: Tynan; McClenahan, Mkandawire, Beckwith, Giles; Travis, Ferrell, Rose, Purdie; Sills, Fleetwood (Williams 73). Subs not used: Lewis, Gulliver, Wallis, Connell.

Attendance: 3,404.