Hereford have won their first pre-season game 4-1, with a good showing from Paul Caddis's new signings in the first half.
With the Bulls leading 3-1 at the break thanks to an Andy Williams brace and a Stanley Anaebonam goal, the game dropped in intensity in the second half after 10 changes.
Six of the seven trialists failed to impress, but it was a good workout for the Bulls and gave Caddis a chance to have a closer look at some potential signings. The one trialist who Caddis has already said he'd like to sign is a centre-back, a "man mountain" who's been out of football for 18 months due to an ACL injury.
It actually appears Kyle Howkins - standing at 6ft 5in - hasn't played since his ACL injury in 2021 while at Solihull Moors. He previously had spells at Kidderminster, Cambridge United and Port Vale on loan from parent club West Brom.
The first clear-cut chance of the game came in the sixth minute for the hosts, switching the ball from left to right - but the ensuing shot was deflected wide for a corner.
In a breath of fresh air for Bulls fans, two players were actually left up to defend that corner - an incredibly rare sight during Josh Gowling’s tenure. After Peggy's Jordan Williamson failed to connect with the ball on the edge of the area, a beautiful ball forward from Aurio Texiera almost left Williams through on goal, with the chance just sniffed out by the host’s defence.
A second chance followed for the Bulls, but again it was well-defended by Peggy before the Bulls did open the scoring. Stanley Anaebonam did well to break into the area before finding Cowley who teed-up Andy Williams who found the back of the net.
But the Bulls weren’t on top for long, with Cawley Cox capitalising on Anaebonam losing possession. He picked up the ball, made a spirited run through Hereford’s defence and slotted the ball past Hereford's keeper - a 16-year-old from the youth set-up.
A Babos effort was then blocked by a red shirt, with the sting taken out it was easy for the keeper to claim. Caddis’s side did retake the lead moments later as the referee gave a spot kick for what appeared to be a series of fouls on Jason Cowley.
But after stepping up, Cowley's spot kick was saved - but in the right place at the right time, Williams, who seemed to do more running than anyone on the pitch, was on hand to head home the rebound.
Cowley, who looks like he should be a creative live wire for Hereford, then created the third goal, teeing up Anaebonam who found the far bottom corner of the net to make it 3-1.
Into the second half and there was a rasping shot from Peggy, but at full stretch the impressive young keeper was able to push it away. There was then a speculative effort from Hereford’s trialist 23, believed to be former Crystal Palace academy midfielder Jamie Taylor. Peggy’s towering keeper only had to watch on as it sailed over the bar.
Throughout the half, where - if we're honest - not a lot happened, there were a couple of moments of hope with runs down either flank from Adam Livingstone and Mark Derricott, with the youngster not looking out of place. The final touch in the box was generally lacking, with trialist 22 a little too lightweight to really make his presence known. Both Taylor and Livingstone saw shots narrowly miss the target.
There was also an effort for trialist 25 which sailed over the bar - but it's thought he's Aneurin Livermore. The 20-year-old, who came through the youth set-up at Newport County, signed for Hereford under Josh Gowling in February but left after one appearance.
But it was Livingstone - one of only two signed-up players on the pitch in the second half - who grabbed the fourth with a beautiful, curling free kick from 25 yards.
All in all, it was a decent workout for the first game of pre-season, but it was maybe clear that training over the past two weeks had been focussing on fitness as opposed to shape and tactics.
But all in good time. It's only the first game of pre-season and the side will have another two sessions before taking on West Brom U21s at Edgar Street next week.
While none of the trialists really impressed, the positivity around the club at the moment is pleasing and it will be good to see the side gel over the coming weeks - aided by a few more additions.