Report: Hereford 1 - Forest Green Rovers 3

Harry White Happy To Have Scored His First Goal At Edgar Street For Hereford

Hereford lost 3-1 to League Two Forest Green Rovers at Edgar Street on Wedneday evening, but the Bulls put in a decent performance against tough opposition.


Harry White's goal in the 50th minute cancelled out Farrend Rawson's opener for Forest Green, but two second half goals for Reuben Reid put the game out of reach for Hereford.

After kicking off, Hereford looked relatively lively with Lewis Hall's cross in the sixth minute just too far behind Harry White in front of goal. A chance for Jennison Myrie-Williams followed but this was blocked and as the ball fell nicely for Jamie Bird, but he saw his shot hit a defender.

Forest Green should've done better to open the scoring for the visitors on the quarter of an hour mark, but Christian Doidge saw his shot blocked and good work from Keiran Thomas prevented Dayle Grubb with a shot on goal.

Trialist Keeper Conor Hudnott

The visitors did take the lead with a scrappy goal six minutes later. From a corner, trialist keeper Conor Hudnott made a one-handed save to deny Reuben Reid. Hudnott had no such luck with the second shot however, as after Farrend Rawson managed to get onto the end of the loose ball to stab it across the line.

As Hereford looked to reply with their first corner of the afternoon, Calvin Dinsley connected well with Jamie Bird's corner but, under pressure from Liam Shephard, his volley couldn't sailed wide.

Jamie Bird With A Shot

Which Was Blocked By Shephard's Face

Before half time Harry White was unlucky not to net the equaliser as his shot was saved the goalkeeper Robert Sanchez's legs after linking up with Myrie-Williams. As the rebound once again fell to Jamie Bird, his powerful strike was cleverly blocked by the face of Shephard.

The last real chance of the first half fell to the visitors. After Lloyd James played the ball out wide to Joseph Mills, he played it back to Dayle Grubb. Grubb tried his luck from the edge of the area but it failed to get past Jordan Liburd.

HT: Hereford 0 - Forest Green Rovers 1

The score at half time was probably a fair reflection of the first, where despite having decent chances of their own, Forest Green had the cutting edge in the final third that Hereford are lacking at the moment.

Hereford came out the blocks second half and within minutes had a free kick 25-yards out. After Harry White was fouled, up-stepped Myrie-Williams but his disappointing free kick was straight at the wall.

But less than five minute after the restart, Harry White equalised in a spectacular fashion. Cool as could be, White broke into the box and evaded a first challenge, then cut the ball back to miss the sliding Lloyd James. With only the keeper left to beat, White struck the ball hard and left Sanchez with little chance to prevent the equaliser.

With plenty of shots already being blocked by both defences, in the 56th minute Billy Murphy's strike from outside the area was stopped by the diving body of Joseph Mills. 

Murphy then went into the referees notebook four minutes later for a late challenge on Christian Doidge before being one of three substitutes as Hereford brought on Lance Smith, Callum Sainty and Eliot Richards.

Forest Green had also made numerous changes, with George Williams providing a good corner for Forest Green's second goal. With the ball delivered from the left towards the back-post, Reuben Reid was there to firmly head the ball home.

Six minutes later at the Nailsworth side had an easy third goal as Eliot Richards was dispossessed, Reuben Reid drove into the box and despite support from George Williams opted to walk the ball into the back of the net after rounding the keeper.

The introduction of the spirited Adam Hockey led to a chance of his own, when after creating himself enough space on the left to get a shot away from distance, his driven ball was just wide of the near post.

Overall it was another good test for Hereford, but does show they need a new addition or two in the heart of defence. With Ryan Green on holiday, sponsors man of the match Mike McGrath did a decent job of filling in at centre-back alongside captain Jordan Liburd.
The Whites also seemed to lack a cutting edge in the final third, despite a well-taken goal by new signing Harry White.
Trialist keeper Conor Hudnott did well against a team two divisions higher than Hereford, pulling off a few decent saves throughout the course of the game.

FT: Hereford 1 - Forest Green Rovers 3
Att: 624 (54 away)
Sponsors MotM: Mike McGrath

Hereford: Hudanott, Thomas, Greenslade, Murphy, Liburd, McGrath, Hall, Dinsley, White, Bird, Myrie-Williams.
Subs: Richards, Smith, Sainty, Franklin, Hockey, Horsell.

Forest Green: Sanchez, Shephard, James, Rawson, Winchester, Grubb, Doidge, Brown, Gunning, Mills, Reid.
Subs: Montgomery, Laird, Hollis, Archibald, Collins, Simpson, Williams, Campbell.

Next Game: Cardiff City XI at Home on Saturday 28th July at 3pm

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