For the second game running Hereford welcomed higher graded opposition in the shape of local rivals Sky Bet League Two side Shrewsbury Town to the MandM Edgar Street Stadium in the return of the A49 derby for their fifth pre-season friendly and final at home following on from the 3-0 defeat against Solihull Moors on Saturday. Another stern test and further step up with this the first A49 derby since the 2021/22 season when Town last came to the MandM Edgar Street Stadium in a pre-season friendly and claimed a 2-1 victory.
From the 3-0 loss at the hands of the Moors, one which flattered the visitors Aaron and Harry brought into the starting XI announced pre-match new loan signing from Forest Green Rovers Will Merrett and Liam Roberts made his second appearance after his debut following this loan move from Fleetwood Town prior to the game on Saturday and on the bench a selection of U18’s who gave yet again a good account of themselves in the second-half on Saturday.
Former Hereford loanee George Lloyd who spent time with the Bulls on loan from Cheltenham Town during the 2018/2019 season started for the Salop. Sam Clucas who was at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium when the Bulls we're relegated from Npower Football League Two in the 2011/2012 season before staying for the clubs first season back in the Blue Square Bet Premier the following season was at the game but wasn't in the oppositions squad.
The Bulls kicked off kicked from the Blackfriars End towards the Meadow End starting on the front foot opened the scoring early after only 6 minutes with a well taken goal by Billy Phillips after he latched onto a looping ball, advanced to the edge of the box before cooly slotting past Shrewsbury goalkeeper Will Brook into the bottom-left corner.
Shrewsbury’s first opportunity came from a free-kick near the left touchline which Jay Turner-Cooke delivered towards Isaac Lee but Kyle Howkins managed to hack the ball clear before they we're awarded another set-piece a bit further forward which was again taken by Turner-Cooke left footed which was again headed away by Kyle Howkins.
There was then a dangerous ball from the left by Isaac England which almost found the outstretched former Bull George Lloyd who flung himself towards the cross but Kyle Howkins managed to put the ball out for a corner which from it on the right it was played into the area by Jay Turner-Cooke which found George Lloyd at the back post but he could only put his header high over the bar.
With 20 minutes gone the Bulls we're bettering their higher graded opposition with the Salop having possession but failing to trouble Theo Richardson between the sticks.
The visitors Isaac England had a lofted effort from the right hand side of the box but his effort whistled narrowly over the bar before Cawley Cox had a good right footed half volley from the right side of the area which was beaten away for a corner at his front post by Will Brook.
New loan signing Will Merrett picked up a yellow card on his debut for a late challenge on Byron Pendleton on the left side of the box, Turner-Cooke delivered which was swung into the danger zone and met by the glancing head of Isaac England but it went wide.
Then came the best chance thus far for the Town with Preston Bitemo’s clearance from the edge of box finding Isaac England but his curling effort from the edge of the box was brilliantly tipped around the post by the outstretched right hand of Theo Richardson for a corner before Josh Davison found space on the right side of the box but he dragged his right foot effort narrowly wide of the left post.
Corner for Shrewsbury on the right, played in Jay Turner-Cooke which was headed out by Kyle Howkins before finding Isaac England who's rasping volley which was headed clear off the line by Lewis Hudson for another corner.
Before the final chance of the first period coming from Hereford when Liam Roberts did well on the left-flank beating Isaac England before crossing to Cawley Cox near the penalty-spot who's shot took a deflection off Shrews captain Will Boyle before looping high up into the air and into the arms of Will Brook.
The Bulls saw the rest of the first-half out to take a thoroughly deserved one-nil lead into the interval.
Half-time: Hereford FC 1-0 Shrewsbury Town
There was a change at the break for Hereford with Jordan Williamson coming on to replace Danny Waldron.
First opening of the second 45 came after a quick free-kick was taken by Hereford midway inside the Town half which Liam Roberts collected before advancing into the box, hitting a left foot drive which was well saved by Will Brook low to his left.
Town had the first corner of the half on the right, Turner-Cooke lofted the ball in almost finding Isaac Lee but it just evaded him and went straight out for a goal-kick before another corner from the other side which again taken by Jay Turner-Cooke finding the head of Will Boyle but it fizzed harmlessly wide.
With around 20 minutes gone in the second-half Hereford we're still holding the visitors comfortably at arms length despite Shrewsbury starting to have a bit more possession.
Cawley Cox picked up a booking after late challenge on Isaac Lee deep in the Shrews half.
The Sky Bet League Two Shrews who had now started to run up a bit of steam equalised with a brilliant strike after a good ball over the top by substitute Tom Sang found George Lloyd and the former Bulls loanee turned Will Merrett on the edge of the box cut back onto his left foot before guiding the ball into the top-left corner.
Before shortly afterwards having a good opportunity to take the lead after a corner from the left was played towards the back post by Tom Sang which Will Boyle managed to get his head to but could only ballon the ball high over the bar.
Shortly afterwards debutant Will Merrett was replaced by Keziah Martin.
Free-kick near the left touchline for the visitors which Tom Sang lofted into the area to be met by Will Boyle who flicked goalwards but the header was straight at Theo Richardson.
With around 10 minutes of normal time remaining another substitution for the Bulls with goalscorer Billy Phillips going off to make way for Jack Tolley.
A cheap corner was conceded by Joseph James on the left, Sang delivered to the back post which was headed back across goal by Will Boyle back into the danger area where substitute Joe Gbode powerfully headed towards the top-left corner only to be denied by a world-class save from Theo Richardson who pushed the ball over the bar to keep the scores level.
Town substitute Arkell Jude-Boyd then had a good curling effort from the edge of the area which missed the left hand side of the net by a whisker before a goalmouth scramble on the left side of the Bulls box eventually falling to Joe Gbode but the Shrewsbury striker blazed the ball high over the bar from about 10-yards.
After equalising the Shrews pushed but the Bulls held out to claim a deserved gutsy draw.
Full-time: Hereford FC 1-1 Shrewsbury Town
Goal scored by Billy Phillips.
Hereford FC Starting XI:- 1 Theo Richardson, 3 Lewis Hudson ©️, 5 Will Merrett, 9 Cawley Cox, 10 Danny Waldron, 14 Luke Spokes, 18 Liam Roberts, 17 Joseph James, 20 Preston Bitemo, 23 Billy Phillips, 28 Kyle Howkins.
Substitutes:- 7 Keziah Martin, 15 Jordan Williamson, 21 Ollie Lewis, 24 Jack Tolley, Harry Jones, Ollie Bradley, Josh Lloyd, Kayode Sahabi, Harley Jones Williams.
It was another very positive runout in the fifth pre-season friendly of the campaign and the return of the A49 derby against the Salop. In the first 45 we deservedly went into the break one-nil up and despite the Sky Bet League Two Shrews equalising in the second-half the Bulls more and matched their higher graded full-time local rivals to claim a share of the spoils in the A49 derby which was watched by a healthy attendance of 1,917 with 510 from the Salop.
The Bulls are back on the road for the final friendly of pre-season with a visit to Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Central side Bromsgrove Sporting and the The UK Electrical Stadium. COYW
Words: Sam Cummins
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