LEAMINGTON shipped five goals in a chastening 5-1 defeat away at relegation rivals Hereford in midweek despite taking an early lead.
The Brakes stunned the home side on two minutes when Frank Tattum put the bottom side ahead at Edgar Street.
However, a hat-trick from George Munday and further goals from Harrison Sohna and Andy Williams condemned Leamington to a heavy defeat.
The result means the Brakes remain bottom of the National League North table, 13 points from safety with just 10 matches left to play.
Hosts Hereford returned to Edgar Street for the first time in two months after the weather caused damage to the playing surface.
However, Leamington looked to spoil Hereford’s return home when Tattum swept a powerful low effort into the net after just two minutes after the ball broke kindly into the scorer’s path.
Hereford equalised on 15 minutes as Munday stroked Aaron Skinner’s low ball in from the right past Brakes goalkeeper Eddie Brearey.
And the Bulls completed the turnaround in first-half injury time when Munday turned the ball home after Keziah Martin’s powerful strike hit the underside of the crossbar.
Hereford extended their lead after the break on 67 minutes as Sohna followed up Lewis Hudson’s initial strike to drive a shot through defender Dan Meredith and Brearey into the net.
And Munday completed his hat-trick on 77 minutes with a cool finish past Brearey from substitute Mikey Lane’s pass.
The Bulls added a fifth goal in injury time when substitute Williams broke through and lifted the ball over a helpless Brearey.
Leamington are next in action against Darlington on Saturday, March 14 with kick-off at 3pm at Blackwell Meadows.
