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| Montel Gibson celebrates his first goal for Hereford |
Hereford got their new season off to the best possible start with a clinical and accomplished 3-0 win over full-time South Shields.
With a one-goal lead at half-time thanks to Montel Gibson, Andy Williams doubled the lead after the break before Yusifu Ceesay rounded off an outstanding afternoon at Edgar Street.
On a sunny afternoon, the first shot came with four minutes on the clock, Andy Williams winning the second ball from Aaron Chapman’s long kick from the back. He soon found Montel Gibson, whose shot from 30- yards comfortably beat the crossbar and settled in the now-cleared Blackfriars End.
Seven minutes in saw the first corner of the new season, with South Shields bringing everyone back to defend. Newly installed captain Lewis Hudson found himself in possession from Alex Babos’s delivery but the Mariners were able to hastily clear as the ball became stuck under his feet.
With Hereford sometimes guilty of being sloppy in possession, the ball pinged around in midfield before Ashton Mee sent Shields on their way. As seasoned striker Paul Blackett glided down the right, he drilled a low ball across the face of goal, almost sneaking in at the far post.
A second chance moments later saw towering keeper Chapman called into action, denying - and keeping a firm grip of - Ashton Mee’s shot. Having kept another two chances out of the back of the net, the Bulls were then caught out on the left. Having got the better of his marker, Blackett latched onto the end of Robert Briggs's ball. Having then rounded Chapman who had raced off his line and out of the box, Blackett's shot from the edge of the area was cleared off the line by Hudson.
After a period of pressure in front of the meadow End, Montel Gibson soon tried his luck again. Bringing down a long ball forward, he chopped around the first defender before shooting past the second - but his effort looked to be going wide and equalled by visiting stopper Myles Boney.
The summer signing didn’t have to wait too long to open his account though, picking up Coleby Shepherd's loose ball and staying cool and calm as he slotted past Boney.
Despite taking the lead, Paul Caddis's side were soon under pressure again with more last-ditched defending to clear an effort off the line. Lawson D’Ath was able to deny an effort after Blackett rounded the sprawling keeper at 12-yards. A free kick moments later saw captain Briggs's effort fly into the Meadow End.
On the stroke of half time, another threatening break from Shields saw Chapman forced into a save low down to his right to deny Daniel Ward having been released by Blackett. From the resulting flag kick, Chapman rose highest and claimed the ball to keep Hereford’s lead intact going into the break, with a chance for Alex Babos denied by the feet of the keeper at the other end of the pitch.
Half time: Hereford 1 - South Shields 0
After an even and entertaining first half, Paul Caddis's half-time team talk seemed to do the trick as Hereford came out for the second half even more determined.
The half, like Hereford's season, got off the best possible start as having already seen one shot fly wide, Andy Williams extended his side's lead. He was able to bring down a ball from Alex Babos on the right, take a touch, and unleash a shot that rattled down off the crossbar.
A chance each from Babos and Gibson couldn't add to the tally, with the pair then linking up for a long throw routine. That saw Gibson's powerful effort at the back post sail over the bar, but proving the stronger Hereford side were not done with scoring just yet.
An inch-perfect ball looped over the top from Chapman was then brought down superbly by the lively Gibson - who had proved his pace and ability over the course of the afternoon - but he ended up dragging the effort frustratingly wide.
Having been able to keep the Mariners at bay during the second half, the pace of the game slowed as Caddis started to make the most of now being able to make five substitutes.
Gibson made way for Aaron Skinner, and Preston Bitemo replaced the impressive defender Sammy Robinson, just before Ceesay added his name to the scoresheet.
Slightly subdued compared to what fans saw when he first signed for the club as he still isn't fully fit, he still proved he's got what it takes. With the Meadow End bursting into life, it seemed to give the players a lift. Tate Campbell - who stood out today, reading the game and generally being an effective pest in midfield - launched a surging run down the right, playing the ball across to Ceesay to fire home - under little pressure from the tiring Shields defence.
With three more subs on the way, Ceesay, Williams and Babos making way for Aurio Teixeira, Adam Rooney and Mark Derricott, Hereford were content to see the game out - but not before another chance. It could have been four with a sustained spell of pressure in injury time, but ultimately it wasn't to be as the Lilywhites recorded a perfect start to the new campaign.
Full time: Hereford 3 - South Shields 0
Attendance: 2,888 (74 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Montel Gibson
Hereford: Chapman, Preston, Howkins, Hudson, Robinson (Bitemo 80'), D’Ath, Campbell, Ceesay (Teixeira 87'), Babos (Derricott 90'), Gibson (Skinner 72'), Williams (Rooney 90')
Subs not used: -
South Shields: Boney, Shepherd, Bramwell, Broadbent, Heaney, Briggs, Ward, Jenkins, Mee (McGowan 59'), Blackett, Rutledge (Crossley 59')
Subs not used: Seymour, Taylor, Sloane