Cody Cooke came off the bench to score a second half hat-trick as City cruised to their biggest win of the season to stay right in the promotion mix in the Evo-Stick Southern League premier division.

The home side led just 1-0 at half time through Barry Hayles’ well taken sixth goal of the season after 13 minutes.

But once Cooke, who replaced leading scorer Craig Duff after 54 minutes, made it 2-0 with a low finish six minutes later it became just a matter of how many City would score against their financially troubled visitors.

Hayles soon made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after a foul on Rob Farkins and Cooke got his second with a shot which trickled into the far corner.

Fellow sub Isaac Vassell added a fifth when he raced clear, before Cooke completed his hat-trick, after being played through by Hayles, to complete a fine afternoon for the home side who remain seventh in the table but just three points off second place.

And only the post denied a rampant Cooke a fourth as City powered to three more points.

Manager Steve Tully was delighted with his team's ruthless finishing in front of goal and the contribution from the subs.

"It is all about the squad, not just the starting XI," he said.

In contrast it was all too much for Hereford manager Jon Taylor who, after being "sent off" in the first half for some out of place comments, was again ordered off in the second period after trying to relay instructions from the stand behind the dug out.

TRURO CITY: Burns; Pugh, Palmer, Farkins; White, Ash (capt), Green, Duff (Cooke 54), Brett (Thompson 22); Hayles, Wright (Vassell 66).

Subs (not used): Afful, Moore.

Yellow cards: Thompson (45+1).

HEREFORD UNITED: Williams; Yoreth (Oyibo 69), Cutajar, Hawker, Gascoigne (capt), Gordan, Vetter (Kone 75), O'Neil, Mor Diop, Sullivan, Onyeike (Fortnam-Tomlinson 59). Subs (not used): Mahony, Ciani.

Yellow cards: Yoreth (46), Gascoigne 77) Hawker (81)

Goals: Hayles (13) 1-0, Cooke (60) 2-0, Hayles (pen 62) 3-0, Cooke (69) 4-0, Vassell (71) 5-0, Cooke (81) 6-0.

Referee: Andrew Bennett.

Crowd: 421.