FROM THE ARCHIVES: Hereford FC's first ever game

Today marks five years since Hereford's first ever game. Just over 2,000 fans packed into Langland Avenue to see the Bulls beat Malvern Town 3-2. Sam Pearson got the club's first goal, with Joel Edwards and Dale Hodge also on target. In the five years since, Hereford have been promoted three times, got to a Wembley final and won other domestic trophies. Below is our report from the game on July 7, 2015.

Hereford FC Start Life With A Win 

The First Half Line Up

The reformed Bulls played their first preseason friendly of their inaugural season this evening away at Malvern Town. In front of a record crowd of over 2000, boss Peter Beadle took the opportunity to take a look at a number trialists alongside the 7 players already signed up for next season.

With Hereford kicking off following a minutes silence in remembrance of the 7/7 attacks 10 years ago today, it was a fairly slow start for both sides. However, in the 17th minute it was the Bulls who broke the deadlock. Sam Pearson, who played for Pegasus Juniors towards the end of last season, had a goal-bound shot which was handled on the line by the last man. 

Sam Pearson Shoots Towards Goal

Rather than award a penalty and send the player off, the referee took the sensible option for a friendly game by awarding Hereford their first ever goal without the ball actually crossing the line.

The Malvern Keeper Kept The Ball Out Of The Goal After It Was Handled By A Malvern Defender

Malvern equalised in the 39th minute when a corner was met by Sam Reynolds who sent the ball into the bottom left hand corner of the net with a smart swivelling volley.

Before the break though it was Hereford who were next to score from a set piece. Purdie’s inswinging corner was met by ex-Westfields man Joel Edwards at the far post; he made no mistake in sending the ball across the line.

Joel Edwards Beats The Keeper

HT: Malvern 1 – Hereford 2

Line-up: Harvey Rivers, Max Kontic-Caveney, Joel Edwards, Matt James, Tony James, Nathan Summers, Ben Miller, Rob Purdie, Sam Pearson, Dylan Bonella, Soloman Whitley.

At half time, manager Peter Beadle completely changed his line-up, with only Harvey Rivers retaining his place. He was called upon quickly though as within seconds of the restart he denied Malvern their second. Both Sam Rathbone and Matt Turner saw the subsequent efforts saved by Hereford’s stopper.

A corner for the Whites flicked off a Hereford head to the left hand corner of the 18-yard box, where Dale Hodge was on hand to control the ball and exquisitely curl the ball into the top right hand corner past the static Malvern keeper. Up until last season Hodge was playing at WMRL Division 2 side Kington Town.

Dale Hodge About To Score Hereford's Third Goal

UITC Youth Team goalkeeper Jamez Aurelius was named in tonight’s squad and came on for Harvey Rivers midway through the second half.

Malvern got a goal back with a nice lob over the new keeper. In the closing stages of the game Aurelius denied Malvern an equaliser when he just got his fingertips to a shot to divert the ball just wide of the upright. The resulting corner proved fruitless for Malvern with the ball being well caught by the youth teamer.

FT: Malvern 2 – Hereford 3

Line-up: Harvey Rivers, Will Haines, Adam Newbury, Jamie Gregory, Tom Moxam, Dale Hodge, Ryan Shaw, Nathan Hughes, Josh Emery, Sam Hunt. 

Att: A record breaking 2,006.