By Gregg Davies @ Meadow Lane

Hereford United endured yet more misery on their travels in 2009/10, finishing with nine-men and suffering their heaviest defeat of the season at high-flying Notts County.

Having created the better opportunities in the opening half-hour, the Bulls then gift-wrapped the hosts an opener as Sam Gwynne slipped inside his own penalty area, allowing Craig Westcarr to net.

Westcarr added a second and a third - from the spot after goalkeeper Chris Adamson had seen red - after the interval before Luke Rodgers bagged a late brace, with Paul Downing also dismissed for an alleged handling offence on the goal-line.

John Trewick rang the changes following back-to-back home defeats to Burton and Northampton, revitalising his entire defence.

Adamson, Gwynne, Downing, debutant Daniel Preston and Richard Rose all started, while Matt Done also returned in place of Lee Morris.

Despite the drubbing it was the visitors who threatened to score first, with Downing's glancing header from a Done free-kick forcing Kasper Schmeichel into a full-stretch save.

From the resulting corner, Kenny Lunt's low shot deflected across the face of goal, with no United team-mate on hand to divert the ball home.

Steve Cotterill - taking charge of the Magpies for the first time - saw his side hit back soon after, with Rodgers seeing a goal chalked off for offside, before being denied a second shooting opportunity by a vital flick from Preston.

Adamson made his only save of the first-half, diverting Westcarr's low cross-shot to safety amid a crowded penalty-area.

And it should have led to Hereford edging ahead, as Done charged down a clearance into the path of Gavin McCallum, who wastefully fired high and wide from eight yards.

Instead, it was County who drew first blood. Gwynne fell over attempting to clear the ball inside the danger-zone, handing former Kettering speedster Westcarr a chance to net that he took with aplomb.

Hereford began brightly after the break as they went in search of a leveller, but were caught on the counter-attack just nine minutes into the half.

A neat turn from Rodgers and perfectly weighted pass from former Bull Karl Hawley found winged-wonder Westcarr again down the left, who expertly fired across Adamson to double his and the hosts' tally.

Having dealt with the aerial 'threat' posed by County's diminutive front duo, Hereford centre-backs Downing and Preston faired far worse following the introduction of Delroy Facey on 67 minutes.

Just five minutes had elapsed when the substitute's flick-on found the run of Rodgers, who was pole-axed by Adamson, leaving the referee with little option other than to dismiss the stopper.

Westcarr completed his hat-trick from 12-yards with ease, but United's miserable afternoon was still far from over.

Hereford's 10 men became nine in the latter stages, as Downing saw red for being adjudged to have deflected Matt Hamshaw's goal-bound effort wide of the target with an arm. Replays suggested the ball hit the top of the defender's shoulder.

Rodgers also scored from the spot, before bagging a swift second from John Thompson's centre.

Seven added minutes ensued for the well-beaten Bulls following a succession of stoppages, and in it County could easily have humiliated Hereford more.

Rodgers - who had previously cheekily chipped Bartlett but saw the ball drift wide of the upright - had a long-range effort comfortably gathered by the goalkeeper, as did Ricky Ravenhill, before Hamshow stung the hands of the Hereford custodian with a vicious strike.

Left-back Jamie Clapham then slammed home a stunning 25-yard volley, only for the goal to be disallowed for an earlier infringement.

Notts County (4-4-2): Schmeichel, Thompson ©, Lee, Hunt, Clapham, Westcarr (Hamshaw 74), Bishop (Edwards 81), Ravenhill, Davies, Hawley (Facey 67), Rodgers.

Subs Not Used: Hoult, Canham, Fairclough, Akinbiyi.

Booked: Thompson, Rodgers, Hamshaw,

Hereford United (4-4-2): Adamson ©, Gwynne (Jones 90), Downing, Preston, Rose, Pugh, Lunt, McQuilken, Done (Morris 59), McCallum, Constantine (Bartlett 72).

Subs Not Used: Green, Valentine, Weir, Manset.

Booked: Preston.
Sent off: Adamson (71), Downing (88)

Attendance: 6,036 - 269 away.