First JPL fixture of the season

City were given a tough lesson in possession, passing and pressing by a very drilled Hereford side in their first JPL fixture of the season as their first taste of competitive 11-a-side football proved to be a baptism of fire.

After an even opening, the visitors totally dominated once they took the lead - impressing with their work both with the ball and without.

City will be disappointed with the first goal that they gave away as they allowed Hereford's striker to run through but were unlucky when a cross sailed in for the second. Two further goals quickly followed as the opposition found pockets of space with their clever running and movement - their third following a fantastic defence-splitting pass that allowed the Hereford striker to take in his stride and slot home.

Sloppy defending around their own penalty box saw the ball break to a Hereford player who found the top corner from 25 yards to make it five and a further goal followed before the second quarter ended.

A change in formation enabled the home side to stem the flow in the midfield area during the opening exchanges of quarter three but the hard work was undone as City conceded two sloppy goals in rapid succession as Hereford pounced on every opportunity.

This continued at the beginning of the final quarter as they took advantage of a goalkeeping error and then found the net three more times.

A disappointing start to the season and lessons to be learned but hopefully all concerned will dust themselves down and go again on Saturday when City make the longest journey of their JPL campaign to Kettering Town.

Match report by Scott Fenn