By Gregg Davies @ Sincil Bank

A change of manager at Edgar Street could not improve Hereford United's dismal away form in 2009/10, as Lincoln City hauled themselves level on points with the Bulls following a 3-1 win.

After John Trewick had been relieved of his duties as United boss following the 2-0 home loss to Macclesfield Town, Chairman Graham Turner regained the reigns but saw his side sink to a Davide Somma strike and double from Matt Saunders either side of Marc Pugh's eighth of the campaign.

Turner made four changes to the team turned over by the Silkmen, with Darren Jones, Kenny Lunt, James McQuilken and Craig King returning at the expense of Richard Rose, Jamie Tolley, Sam Gwynne and Edrissa Sonko.

After an uninspiring opening it was the visitors who threatened first, with King slicing the ball narrowly wide from 20 yards after nine minutes.

However, moments later the Bulls found themselves behind as Chris Sutton's side suddenly sprang to life.

A long punt forward from goalkeeper Rob Burch eventually found its way to Leeds loanee Somma on the edge of the penalty area, who cut inside Daniel Preston before firing an unstoppable shot past Adam Bartlett and in off the underside of the crossbar.

Preston's poor back-pass almost gifted Somma the simplest of seconds virtually straight after the restart, only for Bartlett to rush out and clear the danger.

And Hereford soon settled and began to boss proceedings, with Gavin McCallum's fierce left-footer forcing Burch into a flying save.

McCallum then headed Pugh's corner-kick goal-wards, but saw the ball hacked off the line by Cian Hughton.

But by the time the visitors had finished appealing that the ball was over the line, they were two goals down.

Another deep ball up-field was nodded into the path of Fulham loanee Saunders, who unleashed a screamer from 30-yards that almost burst the back of the net.

On-loan Rangers wide-man Steve Lennon screwed well wide shortly after as the buoyant hosts sought a killer third before the break.

But it was Hereford who continued to play the better football, and after Ryan Valentine had half-volleyed wide from distance, they deservedly reduced arrears.

McQuilken's pin-point diagonal cross found the run of Ryan Green on the right channel, who volleyed the ball into the path of Pugh to expertly turn and fire into the bottom corner.

The second half began as scrappily as the previous one, and again it was the Bulls who came closest to netting first.

Pugh's right-wing centre was headed towards his own net by veteran defender Ian Pearce, but the ball landed a whisker the wrong side of the upright.

More sustained pressure from United resulted in Valentine's low cross deflecting into the arms of Burch rather than the feet of an orange shirt.

And midway through the period Hereford should have restored parity, with Leon Constantine seeing his close-range strike deflect wide of the target after Pugh's set-piece had caused chaos.

Instead, it was the Imps who netted their third goal with their third effort on target of the contest.

Jones appeared to be impeded on the edge of his own danger-zone, and while the centre-back laid stricken on the turf, Somma played the ball across for Saunders to double his tally with ease.

Both Mathieu Manset and Matt Done entered the fray late on as the Bulls sought an unlikely point.

However, both failed to make a telling contribution in the closing stages, with a McQuilken 20-yarder that flew narrowly over the top United's only opportunity of note.

Lincoln City: Burch; Hughton, Swaibu (Hone 67), Pearce (Green 80), Anderson, Lennon, Kerr, Clarke, Saunders, Broughton (Connor 90), Somma.

Subs Not Used: Musselwhite, Reid, Gordon, Gilmour.

Hereford United: Bartlett; Green, D. Jones, Preston, Valentine, Pugh, McQuilken, Lunt, McCallum, King (Manset 79), Constantine (Done 79).

Subs Not Used: Adamson, Rose, Gwynne, Downing, Sonko.

Attendance: 6,012.