Terry Goodwin was at Stourbridge for Hereford's 2-1 defeat in their latest pre-season friendly.
Football under the lights is back, in the picturesque surrounding of the Black
Country where cricket and football sit side-by-side.
300 people were allowed to attend the friendly match at the War Memorial Ground. For many fans, it was their first opportunity to see the Bulls in action as plans continued for the new season.
Hereford named five trialists in their starting eleven, while Stourbridge manager Mark Yates included former Bulls striker Richard Peniket in his starting line-up.
In a first half short on chances, Hereford took the lead after 11 minutes. Trialist Jason Cowley turned home from close range after a good move involving Kyle Finn and another trialist, James McQuilkin, on the right wing.
Finn had a chance of his own when he shot well over from outside the box on the
half hour mark. At the other end, Stourbridge had a better end to the half,
testing Hereford goalkeeper Paul White. The home side’s best chance came from
Kayelden Brown, who fired straight at the goalkeeper, and minutes later Ellis
Deeney hit a shot inches wide.
The Bulls made two first-half changes with Jan Klukowski and Finn both replaced by trialists, and there were a host of substitutions at the break as Josh Gowling gave a run-out to several other trialists and Brandon Powell took over in goal. Toby Raison and Rob Whitlock also came on.
Former Kidderminster man Darryl Knights went close for Stourbridge early in the second half as his header bounced off the crossbar. And moments later, goalkeeper Charlie Price grabbed the ball ahead of a Hereford attack to stifle their search for a second goal.
It was Peniket who scored the equaliser on the stroke of the hour. The striker fired an low drive home after a good build-up move from O’Hanlon to level up proceedings.
The Bulls went close soon after when a defensive mix-up saw the ball roll inches wide of the Stourbridge post.
As the substitutions continued, Hereford aimed to re-take the lead but Mark Yates’ side marched their higher-graded opposition. Powell had to save from a Stourbridge corner, while at the other end a Hereford header was grabbed out of the air by the home side’s ‘keeper. Another low drive from a Hereford trialist from 20 yard out sailed wide of the Stourbridge post.
With 12 minutes left, the home side almost took the lead. Another good move saw Stourbridge with the ball inside the Hereford box thanks to Greg Mills, and the close-range shot from Andre Landell was deflected wide for a corner. A couple of minutes later, Hereford goalkeeper Powell competed for a ball with a Stourbridge forward, who needed treatment before continuing.
With five minutes remaining, a handball from a Hereford defender as a cross came into the box saw the home side awarded a penalty. Greg Mills slotted it low to Powell’s left, out of reach of the Bulls’ keeper, to give Stourbridge a late advantage.
And Landell should’ve made it three for Stourbridge with a fine strike two minutes later, but it curled away from goal.
Stourbridge: Price, Bustin, O’Hanlon, Morris, Green, Fletcher, Knights, Deeney, Peniket, Nicholls, Brown. Subs: Mills, Will, Derrick, Birch, Jack, Landell.
Hereford: White, Hodgkiss, Grimes, Finn, Klukowski, Brown, and five officially unnamed trialists. Subs: Raison, Whitlock, and several more officially unnamed trialists.
The Bulls made two first-half changes with Jan Klukowski and Finn both replaced by trialists, and there were a host of substitutions at the break as Josh Gowling gave a run-out to several other trialists and Brandon Powell took over in goal. Toby Raison and Rob Whitlock also came on.
Former Kidderminster man Darryl Knights went close for Stourbridge early in the second half as his header bounced off the crossbar. And moments later, goalkeeper Charlie Price grabbed the ball ahead of a Hereford attack to stifle their search for a second goal.
It was Peniket who scored the equaliser on the stroke of the hour. The striker fired an low drive home after a good build-up move from O’Hanlon to level up proceedings.
The Bulls went close soon after when a defensive mix-up saw the ball roll inches wide of the Stourbridge post.
As the substitutions continued, Hereford aimed to re-take the lead but Mark Yates’ side marched their higher-graded opposition. Powell had to save from a Stourbridge corner, while at the other end a Hereford header was grabbed out of the air by the home side’s ‘keeper. Another low drive from a Hereford trialist from 20 yard out sailed wide of the Stourbridge post.
With 12 minutes left, the home side almost took the lead. Another good move saw Stourbridge with the ball inside the Hereford box thanks to Greg Mills, and the close-range shot from Andre Landell was deflected wide for a corner. A couple of minutes later, Hereford goalkeeper Powell competed for a ball with a Stourbridge forward, who needed treatment before continuing.
With five minutes remaining, a handball from a Hereford defender as a cross came into the box saw the home side awarded a penalty. Greg Mills slotted it low to Powell’s left, out of reach of the Bulls’ keeper, to give Stourbridge a late advantage.
And Landell should’ve made it three for Stourbridge with a fine strike two minutes later, but it curled away from goal.
Stourbridge: Price, Bustin, O’Hanlon, Morris, Green, Fletcher, Knights, Deeney, Peniket, Nicholls, Brown. Subs: Mills, Will, Derrick, Birch, Jack, Landell.
Hereford: White, Hodgkiss, Grimes, Finn, Klukowski, Brown, and five officially unnamed trialists. Subs: Raison, Whitlock, and several more officially unnamed trialists.