Neath 2-6 Hereford

Hereford United's fitness told in the end, as the Bulls recorded their second biggest win of pre-season scoring four goals within the last 11 minutes at Neath.

A brace from Joe Colbeck was bettered by Sean Canham who grabbed his first hat-trick in Hereford colours. Stuart Fleetwood added his name to the scoresheet with a neat turn and shot from 18 yards out.

FULL TIME

87: GOAL! Canham completes his hat-trick, firing home from 20 yards.

86: Stratford chips the ball over his man six yards out before trying to fire home. However, he didn't get the desired connection and the Neath keeper claims easily.

85: GOAL! Neath pull a goal back with Thomas heading home from close range after Trundle twisted his way past Kovacs on the left before crossing to the back post.

84: GOAL! Fleetwood gets in on the goalscoring as well, running 40 yards before turning his man and firing a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

81: SUB - Joe Colbeck is replaced by Daniel Stratford.

80: GOAL! Not to be outdone, Sean Canham grabs his second of the game firing home from inside the area.

80: GOAL! Colbeck grabs his second, picking up a pass from McQuilkin, turning inside the area and blasting the ball into the opposite corner of the goal. Good debut.  

75: Lunt sends Colbeck away on the right. He picks out Fleetwood in the area who sends a decent header in on goal - it looked like it was going to creep in to the top corner, but somehow carried over.

75: Fleetwood almost manages to steal in at the back post, but can't quite get his foot on Colbeck's cross into the box.

74: Connor gets his hands to a shot from Hughes, palming it out to Valentine who clears on the edge of the six yard box.

71: Valentine switches the ball out towards Colbeck on the right. Neath concede a throw in which is quickly cleared.

70: Two corners from the home side come to nothing as Trundle sends the second to the back of the 18 yard box.

66: Fleetwood breaks at pace down the left before winning a corner. The goalkeeper misses the ball, but luckily for him the referee awards Neath a free-kick as United turn the ball into the net.

64: McQuilkin concedes a free-kick in a dangerous position on the right after bringing down Trundle. The free-kick is unconvincingly turned behind for a corner, which is headed wide by Cochlin.

60: United break at pace, but the move breaks down on the edge of the Neath area after a poor pass from Lunt. Hereford keep an attack of sorts going, winning a corner which is put into the box by McQuilkin. Fleetwood performs an acrobatic overhead shot - but it dips just over the bar.

57: Colbeck sends Fleetwood racing away down the right channel. Breaking into the area he sends a right-footed shot low past the left-hand post. You'd have put money on him getting his shot on target there. Still, nice interchange between himself and Colbeck.

56: Green flies down the right wing before whipping in a cross. Canham can't get his head to it and Neath clear.

53: Moments later and the referee calls council in the middle of the park, giving a number of players from both sides a warning about their behaviour.

53: Thompson is fouled... several times, and wins a free kick. There's a bit of handbags at 10 paces, with the assistant referee having a quiet word with the Neath bench. All adds to the excitement!

51: Thompson blazes over from 10 yards out after Fleetwood - intercepting a poor goal-kick - plays the Barnsley loanee in.

49: The United defence stand off as Bond turns and races forward - Connor watches on as the shot drifts wide of the post.

47: Townsend gets a foot in on Lee Trundle as the Welshman tries to turn and shoot. United clear.

47: Canham tries to turn a Lunt cross in on goal, but it's too far behind him and Neath eventually clear.

46mins: No changes for the Bulls as the second half gets underway.

12:45pm: We're underway here in the second half with United leading 2-1.

HALF TIME Neath 1-2 Hereford United

The first half comes to a close here at The Gnoll, with United just edging the first 45 minutes.

Joe Colbeck got off to a flying start with an early goal after outpacing the Neath defence before neatly slotting the ball past the outrushing keeper.

Neath struck back during a decent spell of play for the Welsh side, with Kevin Cooper's free-kick deceiving Dan Connor to nestle neatly into the bottom corner.

Sean Canham restored United's lead just before half-time, slotting home from the left hand side of the area after being played in by Kenny Lunt.

45: Colbeck latches onto a ball over the top, but his cross into the centre is cleared.

44: Fleetwood breaks away down the right, but his cross hits the first defender and Neath clear. Nice turn of pace and control from the United frontman though.

42: McQuilkin sends in a dangerous looking cross from the left. It's turned behind for a corner which the keeper gathers comfortably.

40: GOAL! Sean Canham restores United's lead, slotting home from the left-hand side of the area after being played in by Lunt.

38: Lee Trundle sends a powerful shot just over from 25 yards out to the right.

34: GOAL! Neath equalise from a free-kick struck low and hard by Cooper from 30 yards out. The goal took everyone by surprise, including Dan Connor in the United goal, with his late dive to his right unable to prevent the ball going in.

32: Some good play from the Bulls ends with Colbeck cutting inside from the edge of the area before sending a left-footed shot just wide.

29: Hughes races forward on the right-hand side and breaks into the area but can only watch as Connor parries his powerful shot.

26: Thompson concedes a free-kick in the middle of the field. It comes to nothing and after a couple of failed attempts to clear crosses, United finally clear their lines.

25: Neat play from Neath sees them unlock the Bulls' defence for the first time this afternoon. However, the shot drifts wide and out for a goal-kick.

19: Colbeck flashes past us here in the press box before curling in a cross towards the near post. It's turned behind for a corner which comes to nothing as Fleetwood is adjudged to have fouled.

18: Valentine gives a free-kick away on the left. Thankfully it comes to nothing and Connor clears the goal-kick up field.

16: Fleetwood curls a right-footed shot over the bar from 18 yards out. Decent attempt.

15: Hughes sends in a shot towards Connor's goal, but the Bulls' gloveman gathers at the second attempt.

13: Green concedes a free-kick on the edge of the area. It's swung in towards the back post, but drifts out for a goal-kick.

11: Not a great deal to report since the goal. Talk here in the press box amongst the Hereford hacks is that this is a big game for Canham in his attempts to secure a starting place at Crewe.

7: GOAL! Joe Colbeck opens his account with a well taken goal inside the area after racing in from the right.

6: The first real effort of the game sees McQuilkin blaze over from 20 yards out. He started the move playing a lovely weighted pass forward to Fleetwood, who cut inside before laying the ball off to Lunt. The ball then broke to McQuilkin who sent a fierce effort flying over the bar.

4: Worth a mention that the Bulls are in their orange kit, and shaping up in a 4-3-3 formation with Colbeck the third forward.

2mins: An early corner for the home side comes to nothing. There's a break in play as a Neath player receives some treatment.

11:44am: We're underway here at the Gnoll a minute early as Hereford play their final warm-up game of the pre-season.

Mathieu Manset is ruled out for The Bulls with an ankle injury.

Hereford United: Connor, Green, Kovacs, Townsend, Valentine, Thompson, Lunt, McQuilkin, Colbeck, Canham, Fleetwood.

Subs: Bartlett, Weir, Kanoute, Rose, Evans, Stratford, Gwynne, Malsom, Reid.

Neath: Morris, Cummings, Fairbourne, Cochlin, Hillier, Cooper, Hill, Fowler, Hughes, Trundle, Bond.