Sam watched Hereford at Edgar Street this afternoon, here's his report:
Hereford earned a creditable 0-0 draw with League Two Newport County in their final pre-season game.
The Bulls’ squad is increasingly settled as the start of the Vanarama National North season approaches, though Jason Cowley and Matt Preston missed out following an injury and a red card respectively in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Halesowen Town.
Newport shaded a tight first half; Aaron Wildig flicked a low Shane McLoughlin cross back to Courtney Baker-Richardson, who squandered an early chance by firing low past the left-hand post. Newport’s Bobby Kamwa threatened twice, bursting into an open Hereford box to force Aaron Chapman into a good save to his left, before hitting the inside of Chapman’s right-hand post after skilful work on the left.
Montel Gibson came closest for Hereford in the first half, chasing Andy Williams’ flick-on down the right and fizzing a shot across the face of goal and narrowly past the post. Williams, looking sharp after injury troubles last season, curled a shot wide of the right-hand post minutes later. The only major chance after the first half drinks break fell to Gibson, who could only find the keeper with a side-footed shot from inside the box. Lawson D’Ath’s long balls to the right gave Preston Bitemo opportunities to get forward as an attacking full-back, and driving play from Tate Campbell and Cosmos Matwasa was also encouraging.
Seconds into the second half, a sloppy backpass gave Gibson a golden opportunity to slot home or round the keeper; his attempt to play it through Nick Townsend’s legs was unsuccessful. Neat play down the left gave Wildig the chance to round Chapman minutes later, though the keeper secured the ball from the Newport captain’s feet.
A low corner from Alex Babos found Gibson, who sorted his feet and fired across the goal, but failed to convert in a packed box. On a lively afternoon, it was Gibson’s last contribution, as five of Hereford’s seven substitutions followed, and chances dried up for both teams. A brave header attempt from Hereford’s trialist striker left Newport’s keeper down on 75 minutes, though Townsend was equal to his last-second drive from distance, which was immediately followed by the final whistle.
Hereford’s defence can be pleased with how few chances Newport were allowed in the second half, and cameos from Chay Tilt and unsigned Yusufi Ceesay showed some promise in counter-attacking transitions. Staying injury-free was a plus in a match where neither side seemed particularly motivated to stitch together intricate moves. Nonetheless, the hosts’ comfort on the ball against higher-ranked opposition will give Caddis confidence ahead of the opener against South Shields.
Attendance: 1,319 (including 250 away)
Hereford - Chapman; Bitemo, Robinson, Howkins, Hudson (c); Babos, D’Ath, Campbell, Matwasa; Williams, Gibson
Subs - Skinner, Tilt, Derricott, Rooney, Teixeira, Ceesay, 2 x Triallist
Newport - Townsend; McLaughlin, Clarke, Jameson, Glennon; Brennan, Evans, Wildig (c); Greaves, Baker-Richardson, Kamwa
Subs - Carney, Baker, Thomas, Whitmore, Antwi, Wood, Spellman, Rai, Jephcott, 2 x Triallist