Hereford 1 – Merthyr Town 2

John Mills Congratulates Pablo Haysham On His Goal

Hereford faced Southern League Premier side Merthyr Town at Edgar Street this afternoon in the Herefordshire FA Senior Invitation Cup, the Bulls’ final preseason friendly. Manager Pete Beadle, along with his assistant, ex-Merthyr boss Steve Jenkins, made 5 changes to the team that started at Kidderminster on Tuesday evening, with a ‘new’ trailist Chris Jones amongst the changes.

Chris Jones

Merthyr got proceedings underway attacking the Meadow End in the first half, and got themselves off to the best possible start, opening the scoring within the first minute. Ian Taylor’s initial shot was only parried by keeper Martin Horsell, and with the rebound falling to his feet, he easily slotted the ball home.

With 6 minutes on the clock, Anthony Robbins could’ve levelled the score after a great through ball by John Mills, but his powerful shot from outside the area went narrowly wide of the target. Then, moments later, winger Chris Jones had his effort on goal deflected behind off a defender with the resulting corner easily dealt with by the Martyrs’ defence.

10 minutes later, Kayne McLaggon came close to scoring Merthyr’s second of the afternoon, but his diagonal shot lacked any real conviction as Horsell was able to easily gather the effort; but in the 21st minute Keyon Reffell doubled the visitors’ lead. Hereford’s defence failed to close Reffell down meaning he was able to fire home from the edge of the area.

Merthyr's Second Goal

The Bulls did manage to pull a goal back in the 33rd minute thanks to Pablo Haysham. John Mils was able to take advantage of a defensive error, subsequently playing the ball back to his striking partner Haysham; goalkeeper Glyn Gardner managed to get a hand to Haysham’s right-footed effort, but it wasn’t enough to prevent him from reducing the deficit.

Pablo Haysham With His Goal

HT: Hereford 1 – Merthyr Town 2

The second half got off to a slow start with both teams committing numerous fouls as well as making a number of substitutions. 

Handbags Haysham

The first real action of the period came just after the hour mark when Horsell did well to push Ryan Prosser’s shot around the post, but Merthyr were unable to test Horsell from the resulting corner.

Former Hereford United Player Jon Brown Gets In Front Of Haysham

Meanwhile at the other end of the pitch, Mike Symons connected with Chris Jones’ cross, but his flicked header was easily caught by Merthyr’s stopper.

Joel Edwards Gets His Head to The Ball

With 7 minutes left on the clock, Merthyr found themselves down to ten men after Rhys Baggridge appeared to elbow substitute Jamie Cuss in the face. With Cuss lying in need of treatment, referee Chris Smith swiftly dismissed Baggridge.

Despite shots from Aaron Birch and Joe Tumelty in the dying stages of the games, as well as a handful of corners, Hereford couldn’t find a way through the Martyrs’ resistant defence.

FT: Hereford 1 – Merthyr Town 2

Att: 1,371 with 95 in the away enclosure

Hereford: Horsell, Purdie, Edwards (c), Robbins (Huntback – 83’), Barker (Staley – 46’), Edge, Phillips (Tumelty – 57’), Birch, Mills (Symons – 57’), Haysham (Cuss – 74’), Jones (Clarke).

Subs not used: A. Harris

Merthyr Town: Gardner, Davis, Barrow, Jones, Baggridge, Hancock, Watkins, Brown, McLaggon, Reffell, Taylor.

Subs: Clarke, Brown, Bloom, Patten, Prosser, Williams, Parry.

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