Two goals from debutants meant Hereford could climb back up the Vanarama National League North table with a 3-0 win over Rushall Olympic at Edgar Street.
Jaiden White scored Hereford's second goal of the afternoon on his debut
Ahead of the clash, Paul Caddis made the last-minute signing of 24-year-old America striker Declan McGlynn, who, along with former Redditch United forward Jaiden White and Swindon Town loanee Dylan Mitchell, all made their Hereford debuts. After a goalless first half, White, Mitchell and Ahkeem Rose netted in the second half to help the Bulls claim three points.
It was a lively start for the hosts, in action for the first time since the horror of the FA Trophy defeat to Brentwood Town, and Yusifu Ceesay on the left picked up a nice ball from Jaiden White, but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked. In the opening stages, there were also half-chances for Alex Babos, who fired well over from a Ryan Bartley ball forward and a blocked attempt from Mitchell.
There was then some beautiful football from midfield workhorse Lawson D’Ath on the left, laying off to Cowley - a striker who had been busy heading away two early corners for the Pics. Cowley was then able to quickly beat former Bulls defender Nathan Cameron, but his threatening curling shot couldn’t quite sneak in at the top right-hand corner of Paul White’s net - another former Bull.
As the game settled, Sam McLintock's quick shot from range proved an easy save for Tom Donaghy in goal for the Whites before Hereford were once again threatening with White's shot under pressure nipping the wrong side of the upright. Ceesay was then next to fire agonisingly wide of the post as the Bulls continued to search for the opener, having worked hard to cut in from the left.
As half time approached, Paul White comfortably claimed a Babos free kick and a Cowley shot from a tight angle, and in front of the Meadow End, the best of some Rushall pressure saw former Bull Jaden Charles's cross sail through the area with no one close enough to turn home.
Half time: Hereford 0 - Rushall Olympic 0
The second half got off to a slower start, with the only talking points from the first 10 minutes being bookings for Rushall's Laiith Fairnie and Jack Thomas for fouls on Ryan Bartley and Jason Cowley. The Bulls soon started to up the tempo and the intensity of their game, with the deadlock almost inevitably about to be broken. After a threatening Babos free kick was headed over and Ceesay firing wide under pressure, Mitchell opened the scoring. With Hudson and Ceesay involved in the build-up cutting in from the left, it was Cowley’s low cross from the right which was turned home by the Swindon loanee from point-blank range.
Five minutes later, the Pics could've pulled themselves back level had McLintock controlled his shot, but after being teed-up after a Kyle Howkins error, he blazed over Donaghy's goal. Things then went from bad to worse for the visitors as Dylan Barkers - the fourth former Bull in their line-up - was off for an early shower after picking up a second yellow.
Just before the first Hereford changes of the mizzly afternoon - Mitchell and Cowley making way for McGlynn and Rose - Cowley had played the ball into the path of White but could only fire straight at White with just the keeper left to beat.
With the tempo still turned up, White was refused a penalty, and McGlynn's shot was blocked before Babos's 30-yard screamer was just over the bar.
Into six minutes of injury time, White doubled his side's advantage and all but secured the three points as he curled a shot around the last man and into the bottom corner of the net with Babos the creator.
With just one minute left, Ahkeem Rose won possession on the edge of the box as he capitalised on a defensive error, squirming his way past his man to fire home.
All in all, it was a good performance from Hereford and, in the end, a confidence-boosting scoreline. The defence, while rarely troubled by a lacklustre Rushall frontline, were strong and did everything asked of them and after lacking a killer final touch in the first half, Hereford upped their game in the second half and earned the rewards for their efforts.
Full time: Hereford 3 - Rushall Olympic 0
Attendance: 2,343 (40 away)
Sponsors' man of the match: Yusifu Ceesay
Hereford: Donaghy, Bartley, Howkins, Preston, Hudson, D'Ath (Robinson 88'), Babos, Mitchell (McGlynn 81'), Ceesay, White (Rooney 90+3'), Cowley (Rose 81')
Subs not used: Teixeira
Rushall Olympic: White, Green, Thomas, Fairnie, Cameron, McLintock, McAlinden, Arnott-John (King 35'), Lalkovic (Hull 77'), Barkers, Charles (Forde 77')
Subs not used: Martin, Pennant