PETE Beadle felt his side weren’t ruthless enough as they saw their gap at the top of the Southern League Premier Division cut to seven points following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of King’s Lynn Town.

Hereford, who went into the Edgar Street clash on the back of seven wins, hit the bar through Keyon Reffell’s header and had a host of other chances.

However, the Linnets put on a professional display holding their hosts before going ahead through Liam Fryatt’s 58th-minute header.

Just five minutes later Toby Hilliard secured the victory, breaking through the defensive line before firing low home.

“I still felt we did enough to get something out of the game and I think we had the better chances, especially in the first half,” said Hereford manager Beadle.

“We weren’t really poor, we just came up against a side that had a little more luck than we did and took their chances whereas we didn’t.

“But the most disappointing thing was we fell asleep from a set-piece and the lad gets a free header.

“The first goal was always going to be important and the story of the day was we weren’t quite ruthless enough in the final third.

“The second goal was a real sucker punch for us and we couldn’t seem to get going.

"They have come and done a job and got the result they wanted. We need to bounce back on Tuesday (at Biggleswade Town).

“There is never an easy game and Saturday was a big match but for whatever reason, whether a bit of a lack of ruthlessness, what we have been asking for wasn’t quite there.”

Five Hereford players were booked and Beadle admitted it was a very ‘stop-start’ game.

He continued: “He was very picky with his yellow cards and it interrupted the game a bit and stopped it flowing.

“But I don’t think it would have changed the result.”

King’s Lynn manager Ian Culverhouse was delighted with the performance but said the Bulls would still win the league.

He added: “The boys were tremendous.

“Hereford are a good side who will no doubt go on and win the league but we’re just trying to finish as high as we can.

“They still have a game in hand on us but it showed that we can compete and had nothing to fear.

“At the end of the day, the league won’t lie and if Hereford are top then credit to them.”

King’s Lynn were resolute in defence in the second half as Hereford tried to get back into the game.

Culverhouse added: “We had a bit of luck with them hitting the crossbar a couple of times but you’ve got to have your luck and we scored at the right times.”