Herefordshire U16’s welcomed Shropshire Schools & Colleges FA to the County Ground for their opening game of the 2018/19 season.

Herefordshire started the half brightly, looking good in possession, however a free kick on the edge of the Herefordshire penalty area resulted in Shropshire opening the scoring against the run of play. The free kick was delivered into the back post, then headed back into the 6 yard box, with a close range header beating the keeper. Herefordshire continued to dominate possession, looking dangerous going forwards, creating several good situations but coming up short with their final ball or finish. In the latter stages of the half Shropshire again struck against the run of play, with the defence gifting the ball to the Shropshire attacker on the edge of their own penalty area, presenting him with a chance he gratefully dispatched. Herefordshire continued to threaten to reduce the deficit throughout the half, with Archie Muirhead proving a real outlet on the left wing, but failed to score before the interval.

The second half started with a formation change and five early substitutions, resulting in Herefordshire surrendering some possession, but creating more overloads in the final third. Midway through the half, a mazy run by Archie Muirhead into the Shropshire box saw him brought down, he managed to pick himself up and dispatch the resulting penalty into the bottom right corner, sending the keeper the wrong way. Herefordshire still looked threatening going forwards and had their tails up following their goal. Five minutes after the Herefordshire goal, Marcus Campbell, Charlie Beaumont and Jay Oliver combined down the right hand side, with Oliver delivering a lofted cross in between the centre halves, which the on rushing Tom Hamilton fired into the back of the net. With the scores level, the game became very end to end, with both teams creating chances to win the game, but with neither side able to find a deciding goal. A positive start to the league campaign for Herefordshire U16’s, particularly after being 2-0 down, but certainly a game they will feel they could have won.