By Gregg Davies @ Christie Park

Marc Pugh's 90th minute equaliser ensured Hereford United drew their League Two opener 2-2 with Morecambe, in the pair's final league meeting at Christie Park.

The former Shrewsbury man's first-half stunner was quickly cancelled out by ex-United midfielder Craig Stanley.

And Pugh was on hand to guarantee the visitors a share of the spoils, after Stewart Drummond had headed the Shrimps into the lead.

Pugh was the only man remaining from the Bulls' last league line-up against MK Dons in May, as manager John Trewick gave starts to 10 new faces, including former United full-back Ryan Green.

And Hereford made a bright start on their return to the basement division, with Pugh marauding forward and winning a free-kick inside the opening minute.

The visitors' counter-attacking intentions were on display moments later, as Lee Morris released livewire Newcastle loanee Jonny Godsmark, who was eventually dispossessed on the edge of the penalty-area.

However, the Bulls could easily have been behind after just five-minutes.

Shrimps' stalwart Michael Twiss met Phil Jevons' inviting cross at the far post, but he could only divert his close-range volley high and wide of the target.

Leon Constantine sauntered forward from the half-way line and saw a 25-yard rocket parried to safety by Barry Roche as Hereford hit back.

And after the injured Fraser McLaughlin had been replaced by former Bull Stanley, the hosts fashioned three openings in as many minutes.

First, former Accrington middle-man Ian Craney curled over from 18-yards after good work from Mark Duffy.

And the Huddersfield loanee was pulling the strings again soon after, seeing his left-footed drive beaten away by Adam Bartlett, before centring for Jevons to volley goalwards, with the ex-Kidderminster 'keeper brilliantly tipping the ball behind at full-stretch.

Some neat trickery from Pugh on the left-flank resulted in Constantine nodding the ball harmlessly wide from six-yards, before the striker came close to benefiting from a poor Morecambe back-pass, only for the onrushing Roche to spare the Shrimps' blushes.

But the 'keeper could do nothing to prevent Pugh edging the Bulls ahead six-minutes before the break, with the winger sending a 25-yard thunderbolt into the bottom corner.

The ever-dangerous Pugh threatened to hand the visitors a two-goal lead as the interval approached.

However, the move broke down, and from the resulting counter-attack, Twiss set up Stanley to slam home from 16-yards and celebrate animatedly in front of the travelling supporters.

There was still time for two more Hereford attacks before the break.

Morris' left-wing set-piece was nodded goalwards by Darren Dennehy and against Roche - who knew little about the save - before Pugh thrashed the ball a whisker over from the edge of the danger-zone with the final kick of the half.

Lunt: Skipper

The second period began at a leisurely pace, with the hosts enjoying the bulk of the possession without seriously testing Bartlett.

And it was Hereford who came close to netting with their first foray forward, as Constantine's ambitious 25-yarder brought a fine fingertip save out of Roche to prevent the ball finding the bottom corner.

Yet again, the hosts hit back instantaneously.

Jevons' long-ranger curled inches the wrong side of the angle of post and crossbar.

And the hosts were soon all smiles, as an unmarked Drummond met Duffy's cross, powering the ball past a wrong-footed Bartlett.

Trewick's first substitutions of the 2009/10 campaign saw Glen Southam and Godsmark replaced by Jamie Tolley and Matt Done respectively, with Pugh switching to the right-wing.

However, their introduction initially did little to spring the Bulls - surprisingly lacklustre in the second half - into life, with an unexpected overhead kick from central defender Darren Jones their only opportunity of note.

Laurence Wilson almost caught 'keeper Bartlett out with a left-footed fizzer from 25-yards, with the ball bouncing in front of the custodian, forcing him to spill it.

But just as the encounter appeared to be petering out to a comfortable home win for Sammy McIlroy's men, the Bulls snatched a 90th minute leveller that their second-half display had, arguably, not deserved.

Morris fed Done down the left channel, who crossed low for Pugh to tap home via a flick from Constantine.

Jones: Imposing display

Morecambe (3-5-2): Roche, Moss, Haining, Adams, Duffy (Artell 90), Craney, McLaughlin (Stanley 12) Drummond, Wilson, Jevons, Twiss.

Subs Not Used: Davies (GK), Wainwright, Parrish, McStay, Winters

Booked: Adams

Hereford United (4-4-2): Bartlett, Green, D. Jones, Dennehy, Valentine (Gwynne 82), Godsmark (Done 63), Southam (Tolley 63), Lunt, Pugh, Constantine, Morris.

Subs Not Used: Adamson (GK), Rose, Lowe, C. Jones.

Attendance: 2,119 - 355 away