The Hereford United Youth Team lost 4-1 to a strong Derby County outfit.

United made the journey to the North Midlands to play Derby County Academy in their first pre-season friendly and took a squad of 18 players.

The game was played at the outstanding facilities of Derby's First Team Training and Academy Centre. As the team entered the changing area on the wall were shirts of players who had progressed from the academy to the first team, including Lionel Ainsworth who had two successful spells with Hereford United.

As expected the home side were excellent at keeping the ball and had Hereford chasing around the pitch. United did however manage to match their illustrious counterparts and only conceded one goal in the first period. At the other end Ashley Savage just failed to touch in a fine cross from Mat Latibeaudire.

The second half saw the home side start with a completely different team mainly made up of trialists. United also made several changes and finished with a second-string back five.

Brendon Hackett levelled the scores with a curling right-foot shot but the young Bulls tired as the opposition continued to try and impress coach Darren Wassall and watching manager Nigel Clough.

United ended up conceeding three more goals to finish 4-1 losers.

Coach Gary Stevens was pleased with the work out and the performance against far superior opposition, but the most pleasing aspect of the day was the return to action of Kyle McCarthy after his serious leg break last year.