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Hereford United recorded a comfortable 4-0 victory over local side Pegasus Juniors in their first friendly of the season. The goals were scored by Steve Guinan, Lionel Ainsworth, Richard Rose and Chris Zebroski. The starting line up was a mix of current players and trialists; and the side in the second half, in true Sven Goran Eriksson fashion, was all change with ten subsitutions made. The full line ups for both halves can be found at the bottom of this report.
Pegasus created an early chance which Wayne Brown saved, before The Bulls took the lead in the opening stages. Former Huddersfield centre half, John McCombe headed across goal and Guinan nodded in the first goal of the season. Soon after the advantage was doubled when tricky winger Ainsworth, who impressed with his speed and skill, picked up a loose pass from a Pegasus defender, and punished them by sprinting clear and neatly tucking past 'keeper Bryn Watkins. Despite the early strikes, United created little in front of goal, with Pegasus having the best chance to score when a cross from the right hand side fell to striker Cory Hyde, but he failed to capitalise on the chance, and shot straight at Brown from close range. Late on in the half, Theo Robinson, on trial from Watford, could only shoot at Watkins when in on goal.
The second half was all change, with left back John Curtis the only player to remain on the field for Hereford from the first half, and it was he who had the first notable chance of the period when he fired a low shot, forcing sub Pegasus keeper Bryan Kirkham to tip the ball away. Mid-way through the second period, Richard Rose powerfully headed in a corner by No 19 (name unknown) to make it 3-0 to United. Front duo Chris Zebroski and Cortez Belle both went close, with the latter forcing Kirkham into a fine one handed save after a strong header. It was Zebroski though who added the fourth and final goal of the evening when he cut in from the left hand side and placed his shot into the near corner to round up the evening.
The game will act as a decent work-out for United, and a good chance for Graham Turner to cast his eye over the trialists who are looking to win a contract at the club. New signings Steve Guinan, Kris Taylor (pictured), John McCombe, and Karl Broadhurst all played in the first half, and all four had solid games. Out of the trialists, it was Ainsworth who stood out on the right hand side, with a well taken goal, but the wide gap in standard meant judging the players was difficult. Saturday's match against Bristol City will be a better game for Turner to see which of the trialists are capable of performing at a higher level.
Hereford XI: (First Half): Wayne Brown, Sam Gwynne, John McCombe, Karl Broadhurst, John Curtis, Lionel Ainsworth, Ben Smith, Kris Taylor, Matt Burley, Theo Robinson, Steve Guinan.
Hereford XI: (Second Half): Adam Collin, Trent McClenahan, Richard Rose, Dean Beckwith, John Curtis, Marcus Palmer, Jordan Fitzpatrick, Luke Webb, No 19, Callum Lloyd (Cortez Belle), Sean Bond (Chris Zebroski)
Pegasus XI: Watkins, Catley, Davis, Smith, Tomins, Jordan, Robbins, Price, Hyde, Mortlock, Ferneyhough.
