HUFC 2 Wolves 3

Despite twice taking the lead, goalkeeping indecision contributed to The Bulls falling to a pre-season defeat against a strong Wolverhampton squad at Edgar Street this evening. A groin problem prevented Wayne Brown assuming his customary position between the posts as Graham Turner gave an opportunity to a keeper named as Scott Brown. The game was delayed when Hereford trialist and midfielder Toumani Diagouaga (Watford) had to leave the field to remove an earring. His place was taken by Ciaran Donnelly who has been registered at Blackpool but Diagouaga returned part of the way through the first half to give a reasonably assured performance adding height and presence to the midfield.

The game opened brightly with some tidy end to end football and Hereford took an early lead when Kris Taylor found Lionel Ainsworth with a 40-yard pass. Ainsworth delivered a measured far-post cross which was met by a towering Theo Robinson header to put The Bulls in front just a couple of minutes into the game. The lead was short lived however as Daniel Jones responded by providing the cross for Elliot Bennett to finish. After less than 10 minutes of the start the Bulls were back in front when good interplay between Guinan and Easton resulted in the ball arriving at the feet of Ainsworth on the edge of the box. Ainsworth, the former Derby player, quickly sidestepped his marker and fired low into the corner of the net. Beckwith had to be at his best on a couple of occasions as Bothroyd turned neatly in the six-yard box with the Hereford defender just managing to get a late foot in to deflect the danger but when the Wolves striker was presented with a clear shot at goal he blazed wildly over the bar from 10 yards. Bothroyd made amends when he hammered the ball into an empty net as it fell to his feet following keeper Brown's hampered attempt to clear. The impressive Taylor then found Robinson and the trialist unloaded from the edge of the penalty area only to see his effort narrowly miss the target as the half closed with the scores level at 2-2.

The second period was less impressive as the two managers made a total of 13 substitutions between them. However, an Easton free kick from the right which he curled in with his left foot was met by another Robinson header on the hour but it was scrambled clear. On seventy minutes, Wolves got what proved to be the decisive goal. Daniel Jones provided a cross which was met by Karl Henry who finished with Scott Brown flatfooted on his line.

The second period substitutes included Trevor Benjamin and Simon Johnson for Guinan and Robinson but it has to be said that the starting partnership looked by far the more accomplished with Benjamin in particular looking to lack the touch and class of Guinan. Once again, Ainsworth’s pace and trickery impressed while Kris Taylor showed plenty of evidence that he will be a useful addition to the squad. Easton was quietly efficient in his work while Broadhurst was solid before leaving the field with a slight knock. Joey Hutchinson played at right back and was given a hard time by Wolves winger Jones. The left back was Darren Campion who is understood to have spent time at Birmingham City. Midfielder Diagouraga is believed to be a Watford player who was spotted by a scout in Paris a couple of years ago.

On tonight’s showing, there is still a bit of work to do on the recruitment front but it was another useful exercise in the building process. Overall, despite the better result, The Bulls looked less assured (particularly in the second period) than they did against West Brom. The game was watched by a reported 1213 with 240 from Wolverhampton. Saturday's final friendly against Cheltenham provides the last opportunity to tinker with the squad and formations before the blood and thunder of the real world starts on August 11th.

Hereford line up: Brown (Lewis 75), Hutchinson (McCombe 71), Campion (Rose 61), Taylor (Smith 61), Beckwith, Broadhurst (capt) (McClenahan 54), Ainsworth, Donnelly (Diagouraga 12) (Gwynne 75), Guinan (S. Johnson 61), Robinson (Benjamin 61), Easton.

---