Last night Hereford entertained Solihull Moors in the final home pre-season friendly at Edgar Street. Although the Bulls lost 2-0 there were several positives to take from the game.
Josh Gowling still has a number of players on trial and three of them featured in the first half, one of who was James McQuilken, with several more coming on during the second period. However there was no sign of trialist keeper Rhys Lovett.
Starting the game for the Bulls were: White in goal, a back four of Hodgkiss (C), Klukowski, Grimes and Jones. In midfield Trialist, thought to be McQuilken, Coke, Pollock, and Trialist. Up front were Brown and a Trialist.
The behind closed doors game started brightly with Solihull kicking off and Hereford playing towards the Blackfriars End.
Early action saw Brown collect the ball around the halfway line, make 30 yards and pass to a trialist. But Solihull easily cleared the ball to safety.
McQuilken took a free kick into the area but Grimes could not quite get on the end of the ball. At the other end Grimes was on hand to stop some useful work by Solihull.
Pollock, sporting a new blonde hairstyle, was penalised for a rash challenge but the free kick was met by the Hereford midfielder and cleared.
On 10 minutes Solihull had to chance to take the lead. Cranston received the ball on the left and crossed into the area, however striker Beesley fired over.
Six minutes later Brown turned and directed a shot which the keeper pushed away for a corner taken by McQuilken which flew across the face of goal.
Brown was in possession shortly afterwards and was fouled just outside the area on the right. Another free kick taken by McQuilken followed by a corner which landed in the box but Brown could only direct the ball straight towards the keeper.
On 23 minutes Solihull took the lead. The ball fell to Osborne who turned and shot over the top of White. Little the Hereford keeper could do about that one.
Hereford were awarded a free kick when Coke was pushed in the back. McQuilken took it but it was easily cleared.
A mix-up in the Hereford box might have led to a second goal before Coke had a chance but shot wide.
On 43 minutes Solihull doubled their lead. A throw-in eventually found Beesley who headed over White into the back of the net. A minute later Grimes cut out another Solihull effort before defender Cranston shot inches wide.
Half-time: Hereford 0 Solihull 2
Gowling made three changes bringing on Camwell and two trialists possibly including the player who scored the 35 yard goal for Hereford at Solihull last Saturday.
On 55 minutes Gowling brought on two more trialists and Raison and a few minutes later on came Finn and Owen-Evans.
A trialist was pulled back resulting in a Hereford free kick 30 yards out. But it came to nothing. The Bulls are lacking a striker.
More changes and the game becomes a bit disjointed. A Hereford player was yellow carded after a rash challenge.
A few Solihull changes appeared to lift their performance for ten minutes or so. They won several corners but White was able to deal with everything that came his way.
With five minutes to go Hereford had claims for a penalty when Finn appeared to be brought down in the area but the referee was not interested.
One more chance for the Bulls came from a corner when the ball landed close to the Solihull keeper with a Hereford trialist challenging.
Full-time: Hereford 0 Solihull 2
Overall a reasonable performance by Hereford. In particular the defence Gowling started with looks quite sound. There's a bit more beef out there and of note was one particular trialist who came on at half-time. He merited another look.
In midfield Pollock was busy when on the pitch and Coke looked assured. Trialist McQuilken took most of the corners and free-kicks, many of which were well placed, but he's remains lightweight. Finn and Owen-Evans came on in the second half, both perhaps not quite fit.
It's in attack that Gowling needs more options. John-Lewis didn't play which allowed the manager to give Brown 90 minutes. But he may need to do better to claim a starting place. And no trialist playing alongside Brown stood out.