Match Report: Hereford FC 3-0 South Shields FC

South Shields FC made the 500+ mile round trip to Hereford FC, Edgar Street for the first fixture of the 24/25 Vanarama National League North campaign.

Last season saw the Mariners take 4 points from The Bulls with a 0-0 draw at the 1st Cloud Arena and a 3-0 victory at Edgar Street.

After a packed pre-season and vital minutes for all of the players, Shields were ready to take it into the season and put on a good performance.

Both teams settled in nicely to the game with the match making its way down both ends of the pitch and some nice football being played.

It was the 13th minute when The Mariners thought they were going to break the deadlock with a drive through the midfield from Mackenzie Heaney who eventually found the run of Paul Blackett who was through on goal. Unfortunately his effort was saved and put out for a corner.

Shields were being fairly dominant in the opposition half, wanting to press high and win the ball back. Ashton Mee made a great example of this by dispossessing Hereford in their own half and feeding a ball through to Paul Blackett who was able to square a ball across the box, but the chance was cleared for a corner.

From the midfield, Robert Briggs was able to find Paul Blackett who managed to beat the opposition keeper in a race to the ball. Collecting the ball on the edge of the box, Paul Blackett managed to get a shot away but by that point the opposition defenders had already gotten into position to block the shot off of the line.

Hereford struck in the 26th minute when a loose pass back from Coleby Shepherd to Myles Boney was picked up on the edge of the box and placed into the back of the net by Hereford's Montel Gibson.

Towards the end of the first half, Hereford got a corner which was quickly cleared up to Paul Blackett who held it up well. Paul Blackett found Dan Ward who made a darting run forward but his effort was saved and a corner was given.

The second half started off quickly with Hereford wanting to add more goals to their lead. With an early chance coming their way in the 46th minute that was put over the bar.

That was until the 48th minute when Andrew Williams picked up a cross from the right-hand side and was able to bring it down and fire it into the roof of the net.

Hereford were becoming dangerous from their long throws, with every one reaching near the penalty spot.

Substitutes Kyle Crossley and Ewan McGowan replaced Ashton Mee and Aidan Rutledge in the 58th minute.

In the 63rd minute, the Hereford keeper displayed great distribution by finding Montel Gibson at the top of the pitch who was able to bring down the ball but was unable to convert the chance.

Lawson D’Ath was shown a yellow card in the 70th minute for a foul on Ewan McGowan.

Matt Preston went into the book for kicking the ball away after the referee’s whistle.

Will Jenkins and Ewan McGowan displayed some fantastic passing between each other, eventually finding Dan Ward whose touch was just too far ahead of him to get a shot away.

The chance was cleared for a Hereford counter attack along the right hand side leading to the ball finding an unmarked Ceesay who was able to convert and give Hereford a third.

FULL TIME: Hereford FC 3-0 South Shields FC

South Shields: Boney, Shepherd, Bramwell, Broadbent, Heaney, Briggs, Ward, Jenkins, Mee, Blackett, Rutledge

Bench: Crossley, Seymour, Taylor, McGowan, Sloan