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Hereford United scored late on in their final pre-season friendly against Aberystwyth Town to claim a 1-0 victory. The side featured no trialists and there was no place either for new signing Stacy Coldicott, although he was present. Jamie Pitman was also with the squad but was once again not included due to his shoulder injury.
Town had a good chance after 24 seconds in an otherwise rather uneventful first half. Tamika Mkandawire was on hand to clear off the line though after Tony James had been beaten and 'keeper Wayne Brown had been rounded. Jon Brady threatened at the other end after being set free down the left by James, but his cross was headed behind to safety
On the other flank Rob Purdie found Ryan Green in space and the Welshman's cross was flicked over the bar by a defender before Danny Carey-Bertram hit a half volley over the bar from the edge of the box. Aber went close again before half time but a shot from twenty yards landed on the roof of the net.
The second period boasted more action but again little in the way of clear cut scoring opportunities. Alex Jeannin's twenty yarder was deflected over before Guy Ipoua unselfishley released Craig Stanley through on goal, although he was foiled by the on rushing goalie. Stanley had another shot blocked moments later after a good break started by Brady's accurate ball over the top to Carey-Bertram before Carey-Bertram was replaced by Adam Stansfield in the first of the changes. Brown and Purdie were replaced by Craig Mawson and Sam Gwynne before United took the lead.
Ipoua, played in by Stanley, rounded the 'keeper but was denied from a tight angle by a recovering defender on the line and Green hit a rebound against a defender before Stansfield made the breakthrough. Stansfield won the ball on the right flank and found the ball back at his feet six yards out, after good work by Brady, and made no mistake in chipping the goalie who'd came out to smother the ball.
Andy Williams played the last ten or so minutes in place of Ipoua in which Gwynne went close after cutting in from the left and Stansfield fired a scissors kick wide of the near post.
Although not convincing, The Bulls rarely looked troubled by the League Of Wales side but did not out class their opponents at all. The game will have proved a very good workout for United if nothing else.
HUFC Team: Brown, Beckwith, Mkandawire, James, Jeannin, Green, Pudie, Stanley, Brady, Ipoua, Carey-Bertram. Subs: Mawson, Gwynne, Williams, Stansfield
