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The first pre-season friendly of the 2026/2027 season saw the Bulls make the short trip to the K.G.D. Stadium Old School Lane to take on Uhlsport Hellenic Football League Premier Division side Hereford Pegasus in extremely hot and humid conditions.
Aaron Downes and Harry Pell included new signings Cawley Cox, Kam Kandola, Luke Spokes, Fin Holmes and Billy Phillips in their first starting XI of the new season with the returning, Theo Richardson, captain ©️ Lewis Hudson, Joseph James, Keziah Martin and Preston Bitemo all also starting. New signings Danny Waldron and Joe Willis along with Aaron Skinner and Kyle Howkins weren't involved due to picking up knocks with Joe Willis potentially long term with a muscle strain in his quad which is a shame, hopefully he'll be back soon to make his Hereford debut. A selection of the U18’s we're also involved which was brilliant to see along with two trialists with one believed to be Jordan Williamson which if the case fans will be keen to see how the local lad progresses with the striker being with today's hosts Hereford Pegasus last season where he netted over 30 goals.
The game kicked-off with Hereford kicking from right to left and started with high intensity with Fin Holmes going on a good run down the left-flank but it unfortunately came to nothing.
With 13 minutes gone there was a stoppage in play with someone in the crowd needing medical attention in the hot conditions, hopefully they we're ok.
When play did resume the first corner of the game came from the Bulls on the left, Luke Spokes delivered into the danger area but it was cleared at the front post by a Hereford Pegasus defender.
Hereford Pegasus' first opening came on 17 minutes when former Bull Harrison Summers did well down the right before clipping a ball to the back post where a striker got his head to but could only flick the ball narrowly over the bar.
The first real chance of the game came from Hereford on 22 minutes with Cawley Cox's drive from just outside the box stinging the palms of the goalkeeper before Billy Phillips did well down the right before squaring the ball towards the edge of the box but Luke Spokes’ first-time curler whistled agonisingly over the bar.
With just under half an hour gone Hereford had the majority of the play, looking for Fin Holmes as an outlet on a number of occasions down the left channel.
Keziah Martin delivered the first Bulls corner from the right which Lewis Hudson got a powerful header to but it was brilliantly blocked by a defender before the rebound came back to Cawley Cox near the penalty spot but he could only snatch at the chance and his half-volley went narrowly past the right post.
A hydration break was then called on 30 minutes before 6 minutes later Hereford opened the scoring, Fin Holmes did well once again on the left, faced up a defender before threading a neat ball through to Luke Spokes who from a tight angle managed to squeeze his strike past the goalkeeper and into the opposite corner to get his first goal for the club.
After breaking the deadlock Fin Holmes again caused havoc down the left, he played a crisp pass into Billy Phillips but his close range effort was saved by the goalkeeper for a corner before yet again he drove at the left-back before his ball found Keziah Martin but he could only hook his shot high over the bar.
The Bulls’ Fin Holmes again found space on the left side of the box, cut inside before his shot was collected by the goalkeeper low to his right at the second attempt.
Hereford Pegasus got away with a scare after a mix-up at back allowed Cawley Cox in but before the Bulls striker could pull the trigger a defender got back in the nick of time to clear for a corner.
Just before half-time Hereford won a free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box on the left about 25-yards out after good work by Luke Spokes, Martin ran over the set-piece before Spokes’ right foot curler was beaten away by the goalkeeper seeing the Bulls go into the break with a slender one-nil advantage.
Half-time: Hereford Pegasus 0-1 Hereford FC
Into the second half and there we're a shot of changes with Ollie Lewis coming on in goal, U18’s Jack Tolley, Josh Lloyd, Ollie Bradley, Josh McGowan and Kayode Sahabi along with two trialists with one believed to be Jordan Williamson.
The first opportunity of the second 45 came from Hereford on right side of the box, substitute Jack Tolley delivered towards the back post but a Hereford Pegasus defender headed away.
Shortly afterwards the first corner of the half for the Bulls on the left, Tolley swung the ball in but the goalkeeper comfortably claimed.
Hereford Pegasus' had their first chance of the second-half with a free-kick on the right which almost found the head of an attacker but it flew just wide of the left post.
Hereford almost doubled their lead when Josh Lloyd did well on the right before crossing into the box almost finding the onrushing Jack Tolley but the ball was just behind him and the hosts managed to clear before a trialist had a snap shot which was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper.
The hosts we're now starting to impose themselves a bit more, they had their first corner on the right, former Bull Carlos Moreira delivered into the area but Kam Kandola managed to sweep up the danger and clear.
Hereford Pegasus got back into the game equalising on around 65 minutes when Sam Griffiths found space on the edge of the box before striking low and hard with his right foot into the bottom left-corner.
After equalising Hereford Pegasus started to see more of the ball but Hereford continued to battle well with the side changed at half-time with many of the U18 gaining valuable experience with the exception of Ollie Lewis and the two trialists.
A Hereford Pegasus midfielder had a strike from the edge of the box which was comfortably into the arms of Ollie Lewis before shortly afterwards another had an drive from the left side of the box which flew past the left post.
There was then almost a comical moment when a goal bound long ball by Riley Bevan bounced over the goalkeeper and was trickling in but the hosts stopper got back in time to keep it out despite offside being given.
Free-kick for Hereford Pegasus on the right byline which was headed away by Harry Metcalf before Carlos Moreira delivered another from the opposite side which was headed towards goal but Ollie Lewis collected.
The final action of an entertaining friendly came from a corner for the hosts on the left, Moreira swung the ball in but it was too high and evaded everyone.
Full-time: Hereford Pegasus 1-1 Hereford FC
Goal scored by Luke Spokes with his first goal for the club.
Hereford FC Starting XI:- Theo Richardson, Harry Jones, Lewis Hudson ©️, Kam Kandola, Keziah Martin, Cawley Cox, Fin Holmes, Luke Spokes, Joseph James, Preston Bitemo, Billy Phillips.
Substitutes:- Ollie Lewis, Jack Tolley, Ollie Bradley, Josh Lloyd, Harry Metcalf, Kayode Sahabi, Milo Corbett, Liam Coll, Jack McGowan, Jude Gaudin, Riley Bevan, Josh Mills, Ethan Secker-Howe, Trialist, Trialist.
With 806 in attendance it was a good first run out in the first game of pre-season in difficult hot and humid conditions. The Bulls dictated the first-half before with changes in the second-half Hereford Pegasus came more into it however Hereford still had chances but 1-1 probably being a fair result in the end to kick off pre-season.
The Bulls are back on road on Friday evening for the second pre-season friendly of the campaign and a return to Kayte Lane for the first time since the 2016/2017 season to face Bishops Cleeve. COYW
Words by Sam Cummins