Bulls fail in final friendly

With the test match falling to the elements, it was good to get a clean break from Aussie bashing and watch a football match against League 1 Walsall at Edgar Street this afternoon. However, the Hereford squad failed to trouble the scorer while the visitors notched the only strike over the boundary of the afternoon session shortly before the tea interval.

John Trewick named a fairly familiar order with gloveman Bartlett starting behind a cordon of Jones and Dennehy who were flanked by Green and Valentine at point and square leg respectively. Captain Lunt and the debutant Southam filled the mid-wicket and cover positions while Pugh and Jonny Godsmark played at deep forward and deep cover point. Leon Constantine and Lee Morris started in their normal long on and long off positions.

Play got under way on time despite a damp outfield with the traditional seagulls circling the ground. Pugh made an early break down the left to win a corner which was quickly taken and a neat exchange with Constantine enable Pugh to fire just wide... the ball skidding just wide of first slip. Glen Southam then dinked a ball forward to Constantine but his flick-on just failed to fall to the on-rushing Morris. Play was fairly evenly balanced with neither side really testing the keepers.

A long ball from Lunt found Constantine who cleverly laid off for Pugh but his effort went through to fine leg. For Walsall, the influential Matt Richards brought a fine fingertip save from Bartlett but the resulting corner provided the only goal of the game. Richards took the corner, which was met by a thumping header from Mattis. Bartlett managed to push the ball onto the bar but the rebound was headed in by Stephen Roberts. The Bulls had a decent chance to level very soon afterwards. Marc Pugh drifted inside before releasing Morris who had timed his run well but the ex-Derby player skewed his effort wide when clear on goal. Southam lifted a shot well over the bar just before the umpire called for drinks.

While there was little to cheer in terms goal scoring opportunities, The Bulls had competed well and retained a good shape during the first session. It was also noticeable that on a couple of occasions, two attacking players were left upfield when defending corners!

The after-tea session produced more of the same with both sides having spells of decent possession without any spectacular efforts on goal. Richards was given too much room in the Bulls box but failed to capitalise while at the other end, both Hereford replacements James McQuilkin and Franck Pandovani saw shots blocked. The later periods of the game did produce a bit more excitement with the late introduction of Matty Done in an unfamiliar right side role showing a determination to get passed his marker and deliver a rare quality cross. Craig Jones, on for Valentine, also managed a driven cross which evaded the strikers.

As has been evident in several games, The Bulls huffed and puffed without producing any quantity of chances and with time running out fans will be travelling to Morecambe next Saturday hoping that a couple more additions and that advent of "the real thing" will spark a much needed improvement.

Stumps: - Bulls 0 Walsall 1

Attendance 590 with 63 from the Midlands.

Hereford; - Adam Bartlett, Ryan Green, Ryan Valentine, Kenny Lunt, Darren Jones, Darren Dennehy, Jonny Godsmark, Glen Southam, Lee Morris, Leon Constantine, Marc Pugh.Substitutes: Matty Done, Richard Rose, Keith Lowe, Craig Jones, Sam Gwynne, James McQuilkin, Franck Padovani, Chris Adamson, Emrik Devries

Walsall: - Clayton Ince, Rhys Weston, Stephen Roberts, Mark Hughes, Steve Jones, Dwayne Mattis, Sam Parkin, Alex Nicholls, Peter Till, Jamie Vincent, Matt Richards.Substitutes: Rene Gilmartin, Manny Smith, Troy Deeney, Mark Bradley, Richard Taundry, Daryl Westlake

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