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Following on from last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Uhlsport Hellenic Football League Premier Division side Hereford Pegasus in the first pre-season friendly of the campaign on Friday night the Bulls made their first trip to the Everyone's Energy Kayte Lane Stadium since 2017/2018 to take on Pitching In Southern Football League Division One South side Bishops Cleeve in their second pre-season outing.
From that side trialist A who wasn't involved on Saturday came into the starting XI and there was a selection of U18’s involved on the bench which was again superb to see along with trialist B believed to be Jordan Williamson who came on in the second-half on Saturday.
The game kicked-off with Hereford kicking from right to left with early possession before the friendly sprang into life after a loose pass across the back from the Bulls allowed the Mitres to gain a free-kick on the edge of the box, their left winger stepped up but his shot flew high over the bar.
Luke Spokes had the first shot for Hereford on 6 minutes but his effort was blocked by a Bishops Cleeve defender and it trickled through to goalkeeper Sam Gilder.
The first corner was awarded to the host on the left which was played in but the header from a defender went over the bar before the Bulls went up the other end and Luke Spokes' right footed shot beat Sam Gilder but also fizzed past the right post.
After quarter of an hour a worrying sight when Fin Holmes pulled up after going on a run down the left flank, he was visibly upset and had to be replaced by trialist B. Hopefully it's not serious.
5 minutes later the Bulls had their first corner which Luke Spokes played short to newly introduced trialist B who played it back to him before crossing into the area but Bishops Cleeve managed to clear.
On 28 minutes the referee called for a drinks break, after the restart trialist A went on a good run down the right channel before delivering into the box where Cawley Cox rose highest but couldn't direct his header on target.
Shortly before the half-time whistle on 47 minutes Billy Phillips drove into the box, shifted the ball onto his right foot before curling the ball goalwards but Sam Gilder collected.
Hereford had played well in the first-half without finding a way through and had pushed towards the break especially but it was goalless at the interval.
Half-time: Bishops Cleeve 0-0 Hereford FC
The Bulls came out for the second-half with Ollie Lewis coming on to replace Theo Richardson in goal which was the only change.
The first chance of the second 45 came 10 minutes in on 55 minutes with Hereford having a corner on the left, Spokes lofted the ball in but he put too much on it and it drifted out for a goal-kick.
Bishops Cleeve had their first opportunity with a free-kick on the right near the touchline, their right winger delivered into the area which found a centre half at the back post but his header went narrowly wide.
Luke Spokes then did well to ride a couple of challenges before laying the ball off to trialist B who's snapshot was well blocked for a corner by a Bishops Cleeve defender, from the resulting corner the ball found it's way out to Luke Spokes on the edge of the box but his shot was saved by Bishops Cleeve replacement goalkeeper Lewis Clayton.
On 61 minutes a raft of chances we're made by the Bulls with Ollie Bradley, Josh Lloyd, Kayode Sahabi, Harry Jones, Riley Bevan and Harley Jones Williams all coming on.
Bishops Cleeve then had the best chance thus far to break the deadlock with a drive from inside the box from close range which was superbly repelled by Ollie Lewis for a corner.
The Bulls' Keziah Martin then found space on the right hand side of the box after a good Hereford move before his left foot shot went narrowly wide.
On 68 minutes the hosts opened the scoring in fortunate circumstances after an error by Kam Kandola who lost the ball midway inside the Hereford half which allowed Adulai Sambu to nip in before taking the ball round the advancing Ollie Lewis and calmly roll it into the empty net before Jude Gaudin came on to replace Keziah Martin.
The Mitres then had a good chance to double their lead after a good one-two inside the box allowed a striker to volley goalwards but it was wide of the right post before another change for the Bulls with Josh Mills coming on.
Substitute Riley Bevan tried his luck from the edge of the box but it was into the arms of Lewis Clayton, the hosts we're starting to have a lot more of the possession with the Hereford side now made up predominantly of U18’s.
On 85 minutes the Mitres doubled their lead after a corner on the left was played into the area which was headed home by Reegan Messenger before on 91 minutes the hosts’ left winger cut in and aimed for the bottom-right corner but his effort whistled narrowly wide.
A first defeat of pre-season for the Bulls after an unfortunate error for the first and a set-piece for the second with five minutes remaining, plenty to build on but it was another good exercise and more valuable experience for the U18’s.
Full-time: Bishops Cleeve 2-0 Hereford FC
Hereford FC Starting XI:- 21 Theo Richardson, Trialist A, 17 Joseph James, 4 Kam Kandola, 3 Lewis Hudson ©️, 20 Preston Bitemo, 7 Keziah Martin, 14 Luke Spokes, 23 Billy Phillips, 9 Cawley Cox, 11 Fin Holmes.
Substitutes:- 21 Ollie Lewis, Harry Jones, Ollie Bradley, Josh Lloyd, Harry Metcalfe, Kayode Sahabi, Davyd Antoniuk, Jude Gaudin, Josh Mills, Harley Jones Williams, Riley Bevan, Trialist B.
Another good runout in the second pre-season fixture of the campaign despite a first defeat, more minutes in the legs and more game time for the U18’s that we're involved. Hopefully the injury to Fin Holmes in the first-half isn't serious and he'll be available for the upcoming friendlies as we build upto the start of the season.
Next up the third pre-season friendly and our first back at the MandM Edgar Street Stadium against Worcester City. COYW
Words by Sam Cummins