Leigh RMI 0 Hereford 5: LEIGH'S small band of fans have had a lot to endure this season, but even the last home game could not even offer them a small crumb of comfort.

The Railwaymen have finally had to succumb to relegation after competing for four seasons in the Conference, but this performance underlined the huge gulf in class that has opened up at this level.

Hereford had to hand the title to Chester on Saturday, and will now try to gain promotion via the play-offs, but they hardly had to break sweat to demolish an injury-hit, but uninspired Leigh outfit.

The performance left manager Phil Starbuck hugely disappointed.

He said: "This was the last home game of the season and we wanted to put on a better show than that.

"The disappointment is not so much the result, as the performance, which was lacklustre. Apart from Gareth Holmes, we did not have the commitment. I feel sorry for him and the fans.

"Hereford are a good team and we needed to compete and have some steel in there. We have a lot of injuries which made it even tougher, but there are players who came in there with a chance to shine, fighting for their futures

at the club, but I thought two or three of them would show more out there on the pitch."

The Bulls dominated throughout and were given a dream start after five minutes when Steve Guinan raced into the box but was upended by young defender Gavin Ellison and Tony James hammered home the penalty in the fifth minute.

David Brown and Rob Purdie missed simple chances, before Hereford grabbed a second on the half hour when Rob Betts' through ball caught the defence flat-footed and Guinan raced through before he coolly tucked the ball past the keeper.

RMI tried hard to get back and Andy Roscoe had a powerful shot blocked, while Mario Daniel should have done better with only the keeper to beat, but the Bulls made the game secure two minutes before the break when Simon Travis danced his way along the edge of the box before firing home.

Leigh produced a more battling performance after the break, with Holmes dominating in midfield, but Hereford grabbed a fourth and their 100th goal of the season in the 84th minute when Ryan Green's through ball beat the offside trap and sub Danny Carey-Bertram raced in and tucked the ball past the keeper.

The visitors made it five a minute from time when the impressive Guinan twisted and turned before slotting the ball home.