Disallowed Goals Sees Unlucky Bulls Lose

Seeblocker reports from Edgar Street.

Today’s third pre-season friendly saw six goals, half of which were disallowed. Some impressive work upfront, especially in the first half, saw an unlucky Hereford lose to West Bromwich Albion XI at Edgar Street this afternoon.

Goal? No Offside!

Very soon into the first period, Hereford had four corners and a disallowed goal. An excellent finish from season-long loanee Sam Smith was disallowed due to him being offside.  Soon after trialist Michael Rankine was unlucky with his header which went just wide of the target.

Rankine was working hard and forced Jack Rose, WBA keeper, to make an impressive save. 

As Well As Scoring Hereford's Goal Josh O'Keefe Wore the Captain's Armband

An impressive Chris Bush long throw to trialist Rankine ended up with a good flick which Josh O’Keefe volleyed into the bottom right of the goal to make the score 1-0 to the Whites. Some more chances for the Bulls were to follow but nothing really came of them.

Soon the Baggies were on the attack and after some accurate passing, Alex Jones took possibly WBA’s first shot and slotted the ball neatly into the back of the net.

Loanee Smith, had yet another offside goal four minutes from the break. A couple more Hereford chances were to follow, one being headed over by Rankine and a save made after a shot from defender Bush.

HT: 1-1

Following half time, three substitutions were made with Edwards, James and Walker all coming on. Hereford had some good chances five minutes into the second half with a decent shot which was saved and a cross which was deflected out for a corner. The corner was taken short and was cleared by the young Baggies side.

Substitute Walker dodged in and out of numerous Baggies players to take a shot which went over the target. Minutes later he took another chance and succeeded, but the officials were adamant Walker was offside. Two more subs were made with Pilkington making way for Purdie and Smith leaving for Sharp.

Chris Sharp Came On As A Sub

Sharp passed to Walker and then the ball was given to goalscorer O’Keefe and resulted in a save from Baggies keeper.

The Baggies soon got the ball down the other end of the pitch and Radford was caught flat footed to allow Atkinson to take a shot, with the ball making it past Lloyd-Weston.

With 67 minutes on the clock, Sharp got on the end of a free kick only to hit the woodwork. Another shot hit the crossbar shortly after, a cross from O’Keefe went right across the face of the goal.

Some more chances for both teams were to come, with some good clearances being made by the Bulls’ defenders. After a Baggies corner, Lloyd-Weston tipped the ball away and the following cross was caught by Hereford’s keeper.

FT: 1-2

Att: 667 (48)

A very impressive game saw a few new trialists making Bulls fans hopeful for what is to come. The Baggies were lucky to get the win with several controversial offside decisions going against Hereford.

Hereford starting XI: Lloyd-Weston, Leadbitter (t), Bush, McDonald, O'Keefe, Smith, Collins, Pilkington, Brown (t), Artus (t), Rankin (t).

Hereford subs: Radford (t), James (t), Purdie, Edwards, Sharp, Walker, Bowen, Murphy, Kontic-Koveney, Evans.

WBA starting XI: Rose, Francis, Garnston, Birch, Atkinson, Jones, Wedderburn, Hayes, Jones, Ward, Mendy.

WBA subs: Pace, Palmer, Maduako, Howkins, Oldnall, Leko

---