JAMES Pilling said he was delighted to get his first goal for Hereford FC on his debut after helping the Bulls beat Alvechurch.

The central midfielder played for Southern Football League Premier Division side Hungerford Town last season, helping them reach the play-offs.

But the 26-year-old decided to take time out of the game due to work commitments before hooking up with the Bulls.

“It was good to get some minutes out there, it’s been a while since I played at any sort of standard, so it was pleasing to start off well,” said Pilling.

“It was a bit slow, but second half, we came on stronger.

"I spoke to Peter [Beadle] in the summer and he talked to me quite extensively about the club and where it was going.

“It sounded really good, but I didn’t get anything moving in the summer because I had a lot of other commitments and I stopped playing in the Southern Premier League last year because of all the travelling.

“It then got to Christmas time and he rang me again.

“I had seen the boys had done so well this season, so I was pleased to join in and get things moving.

“I have been training with the club for about four weeks now, so it was good to get a game.

“The strength in depth is there to be seen and the guys in my position have been fantastic so far.

"I know it’s going to be tough to break into the side.

Beadle said Pilling brings some added experience to his squad.

“I chased him in the summer a little bit and I am delighted to finally have him on board with us now,” said Beadle.

“He brings a good experience and is a good size, but he can play.

“He took his goal fantastically well and I thought his performance was really good as well.”

After a slow start by both teams, which almost saw Jamie Willets score an own goal for Hereford, Alvechurch broke the deadlock a minute before the interval. Karl Edwards found space on the left-hand side and his low cross was dispatched at the far post by Andrew Parsons.

But, Hereford immediately responded when Joe Tumelty headed home Ross Staley’s cross.

And the Bulls went ahead for the first time in the match 10 minutes into the second half.

Pilling needed two attempts to get his shot in, but the second effort flew past despairing keeper Paul Evans in the Alvechurch goal.

“The lads gave me a bit of stick with the dummy inside, but I thought I meant every bit of it.

"I was very pleased to get a debut goal.

“I couldn’t have capped it off any better.”

The win was sealed by a Mike Symons penalty after Staley was upended.

“It was almost like a dead-rubber of a game when we look at the bigger picture with everything that is going on at the minute," admitted Beadle.

"But it was a great opportunity for us to get all the ones that haven’t played recently and haven’t had any minutes to get them on the pitch,” he said.

“I think it took them 45 minutes to warm up and get going.

"But I thought, second half, they were excellent.”