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| Hereford's Second Of The Night - A Joey Butlin Lob Over The Keeper |
Terry Goodwin watched Hereford defeat Hednesford in a pre-season friendly at a very wet Keys Park last night.
Ten days to go until the
start of the Conference North season, and Hereford earned a convincing
victory over Hednesford in their pre-season friendly.
Josh Gowling played a side closer to the team that we expect to open the
campaign against Farsley Celtic. There was no Miles Storey or Jamie
Vincent, who aren’t able to play after issues with their contracts.
There were still four trialists on the bench, but given the squad is
still a bit short of the 20 the manager wants to start the season, there
is still time for new signings.
It was an evening of showers that turned into persistent rain on the
outskirts of Cannock (although it was a bit more than light rain at kick
off, and it got worse). Southern League Premier Central side Hednesford
were without ex-Hereford striker Reece Styche who played in the other
“half” of their squad playing at Shifnal. And Chris Camwell started on
the bench, although he only had to wait 25 minutes to come on. Oh, to
have a squad big enough to split into two halves! I suppose we could do
five a side…
To the action then. Hereford weren’t wearing numbers on their yellow
shirts. The Bulls had two early Tom Owen-Evans corners, neither of which
troubled the Hednesford defence. After eight minutes, a good move from
the Bulls saw McLean in front of goal but he fired wide, after some
uncertainty in the home side’s defence. A minute later, Hednesford’s
George Cater swept a free kick wide of Brandon Hall’s goal.
McLean looked full of life in the early stages, pressurising Wycherley
in the Hednesford goal and defensively the home side appeared fragile.
But they broke quickly, with Andre Brown’s effort cleared behind by
Hereford. From the corner, several openings presented themselves with
Todd Parker’s low strike was blocked by Ben Pollock. Moments later, a
cross from the right was headed just wide by Brown as the Pitmen came to
life in attack.
We reached the midway point of the first half with the rain heavier than
ever. But that didn’t stop Hereford taking the lead, Joey Butlin
sliding in at the far post after good work by Mitch Hancox to hit home.
Minutes later Luke Haines could’ve made it two but fired into the stand.
But they didn’t have to wait long. On the half hour, Hereford doubled their lead with Butlin spotting the goalkeeper off his line from 35 yards and firing it over his head and into an unguarded net.
Butlin and Owen-Evans had the chances to make it three before the break. Then Yan Klukowski did, a driving ball tipped by the goalkeeper onto the crossbar and it bounced down over the line. A pact, energetic first half from the Bulls.
The start of the second half saw Butlin go close as he looked for a hatrick. With the rain coming down, I was hoping Hereford would’ve emerged from the dugout with new shirts - complete with numbers, but the only one who’d changed was Josh Gowling in the technical area, wearing Arsene Wenger’s coat. I’m not sure even that would keep him dry during the 45 minutes ahead. At least he’d be warm.
While Hereford had the best of the opening stages, it was Hednesford who struck on the hour to make it 3-1. Andre Brown got onto the end of a Jed Davies free kick to head home from six yards out.
With 25 minutes remaining, Hereford made a change with Maz Kouhyar replacing Owen-Evans. There were more opportunities at both ends in tricky, slippery conditions. Butlin was removed too, with a trialist taking his place, and then Ryan Lloyd came off for Richie Whittingham. Cue more subs, more trialists, and a fourth goal for Hereford with nine minutes remaining. Another good move forward, crisp passing, a through ball from a trialist, and Ryan McLean drilling home for a deserved goal.
In all, a good performance from the Bulls with some good passing play in miserable rain. Up next, Bath. Seems appropriate.
Hednesford: Wycherley, Webb, Lycett (Mendez-Jones, 46), Rowley (Pryce, 46), Ludford-Ison, Richards, Davies, Parker, Brown, Landell (Camwell, 25), Cater.
Hereford: Hall, Hodgkiss (Trialist, 81) Hancox, Pollock (Raison, 88), Forsyth, Haines, Lloyd (Whittingham, 79), Klukowski, Owen-Evans (Kouhyar, 65) McLean (Trialist, 84), Butlin (Trialist, 75). Unused subs: One other trialist.