Marine suffered a painful 4-0 defeat in Hereford to leave them third from bottom of the National League North table.
Neil Young’s men were unable to deal with Hereford’s clinical attacks whilst offering little going forward, registering no shots on target. On the contrary, goals from Ryan Bartley, Jason Cowley, Andy Williams and Mark Derricott made it a comfortable afternoon for the home side.
The result leaves Marine in a precarious position in the league, on 13 points but with two games in hand on the teams around them.
The Mariners got off to the worst possible start when they went behind inside the first minute when Hereford right back Bartley found the back of the net from distance.
The Whites then added a second thanks to forward Cowley, who won a free header in the box from a corner to extend his side’s lead.
Marine’s growing frustration became evident when rash challenges from Chris Doyle and Finlay Sinclair Smith resulted in the pair entering the referee’s book.
Hereford continued to pose a threat throughout the first half, with the visitors struggling to create anything themselves.
With one change by Young at half time, Marine started the second half the better of the two sides in a new shape and Charley Doyle slotting into midfield.
They battled for every ball and began to create some half chances, however they were unable to put Tom Donaghy under any pressure in the Hereford net before the hour mark.
Marine’s best chance of the game came when Sinclair Smith blazed a direct free kick over the bar just outside the area.
Minutes later, Hereford wrapped up the three points after substitute Williams climbed the highest to bag his fifth of the season and his side’s third of the afternoon in the 78th minute.
A deflated Marine struggled to create momentum after conceding a third and the home side remained the stronger of the two and created the better opportunities in the closing stages of the game.
In the dying stages, Derricott nodded home a fourth for Hereford, rubbing salt into the wounds for Marine.
The Mariners will now look for a response when they face Curzon Ashton at the Marine Travel Arena on Tuesday evening.
