By Leo Bell @ Edgar Street

Hereford United lost 2-0 to local rivals Shrewsbury Town; a result that didn't fully reflect their battling performance.

Terry Gornell and James Collins grabbed the goals midway through the first half, as United lost for the 10th time out of 15 league games on home soil this season.

Ben Purkiss made his debut for the club at right-back, with Ryan Green moved into central defence in the absence of the injured Stefan Stam.


Purkiss: Debut

Hereford actually made the better start, forcing a corner after 30 seconds before seeing a Nicky Featherstone effort go harmlessly wide.

But Shrewsbury had their chances too, with Gornell's shot going wide of the near post within the opening two minutes.

The Bulls were getting plenty of crosses into the box, but no one was getting on the end of them.

Equally, at the opposite end, Shrewsbury couldn't produce an end product in the final third, although Harry Pell had to block a Jon Taylor's strike in the fifth minute.

Somewhat against the run of play, the visitors grabbed the opener as Joe Jacobson delivered the perfect ball for Gornell to head home in the 16^th minute.

Hereford responded well. Joe Colbeck had an effort from long range go wide and Delroy Facey came painfully close in the 19^th minute, leaping for a header but not quite making enough contact with the ball to direct it into the top corner.

Yoann Arquin had a cross cleared before Will Evans' rasping shot was straight at a relieved goalkeeper Chris Neal.

Despite Hereford's pressure, it was Shrewsbury who doubled their lead when Collins beat the Bulls' offside trap all too easily and slammed the ball home from 18 yards past a helpless Adam Bartlett.

Hereford continued to press until half-time, getting several decent crosses into the box. Evans had another shot on goal but his effort went a couple of yards wide.

Tom Barkhuizen replaced Facey at the break to try and inject some pace into the game.

Bartlett tipped the ball wide for a corner early in the second half as Collins went in search of a brace and Pell cleared from Matt Richards' near-post delivery.

At the other end, Colbeck saw an 18-yard curler deflect over for a corner. Colbeck took the flag-kick and found Featherstone, whose goal-bound shot was blocked.

As the second period wore on, Hereford started to grow into the game. Arquin raced through on goal following a driving run forward by Pell but was denied by Neal.

Hereford brought on an extra striker in a bid to reduce arrears as Evans was replaced by former Shrewsbury forward Nathan Elder.

Barkhuizen and Rob Purdie got crosses into the danger zone, but neither could find a team-mate as Shrewsbury dealt with everything thrown at them.

As the game entered its final stages, United made their final change with Richard Peniket replacing Arquin.

The Bulls continued to press until the very end. Purdie blasted the ball well over from a late free-kick.

Colbeck also fired off a couple of shots off towards the end but could not find the target on either occasion.

As the final whistle sounded, Hereford probably didn't deserve anything from the match, but the two-goal margin seemed rather harsh.

Hereford United: Bartlett, Purkiss, Green, Townsend, Purdie, Evans (Elder 68), Pell, Featherstone, Colbeck, Arquin (Peniket 67), Facey (Barkhuizen 46).

Subs not used: Cornell, Clucas.

Shrewsbury Town: Neal, Regan, Sharps, Grandison, Jacobson, Wright, Richards, McAllister, Taylor, Collins, Gornell.

Subs not used: Smith, McAllister, Wroe, Ainsworth, Sawyers.

Attendance: 3,515