HEREFORD FC manager Pete Beadle says his players must play a lot better following a disappointing display against Merthyr Town today.

The Bulls went down 2-1 to gift the Welsh side the HFA Senior Invitation Cup.

"It was just sloppy throughout the whole game," said Beadle.

"Passes were too short, some were not even in the right areas and, for me, it felt like the boys were just waiting for someone to do something.

"I said to them, 'you can't wait for something to happen and I'm not prepared to take excuses about the disruption of people being away and one or two injuries and knocks because it's pre-season.

"I'm not worried about that, the result isn't all that important, it's the performance and the performance today, after Tuesday was nowhere near good enough."

Hereford have lost their last three games – all against higher-graded opposition.

"It's been a huge test and gives us a marker of where we are," added Beadle.

"I thought we did extremely well for 50 minutes against Kidderminster and FC United, but today was nowhere near good enough.

"I'll ask 100 per cent every week but I don't set the standards - they do that and they've got to match it every week.

"Today were well below it and they know.

"There were no tea cups thrown or bags kicked - it was just a chat because it's still pre-season but we're only a week away from the start and we need to be better than that.

"The disruption hasn't helped through pre-season with lads going away and players leaving when they did, but we've just got to get on with it."

Winger Chris Jones, who has played for Welsh sides The New Saints and Port Talbot, started the game, as did Joe Phillips.

Beadle explained that Jones has recently been playing in Canada.

"He was in Canada for six months and the team in was with got into the play-offs," said Beadle.

"We had to wait a little bit longer for him to come in, but I thought he did ok today and was one of the brighter ones, certainly first half.

"He looked bright, sharp and lively, so we might try and do something to keep him for a little bit longer to have a look at him."

With Ryan Green, Jamie Willets, Jimmy Oates and Chris Parry all unavailable, Hereford's back four consisted of Rob Purdie at right-back, Chris Barker and Jamie Edge as the centre backs and Joel Edwards on the left.

"It was makeshift a little bit with two midfielders playing at the back, but Rob has played plenty of games in the Conference and in the league, so he's more than capable of playing there and Jamie played a few times at centre-half last season in Conference South for Weston," said Beadle.

"But that doesn't take away how poor both goals were."

Beadle added that Green should be about two weeks away from playing again.

"He's done a bit more today and so far has had no reaction to it," said Beadle.

"He'll train next week, but obviously we've got to be careful with him because he hasn't done any pre-season.

"We might do some 11v11 with him on Tuesday or Thursday just to get him some game time and we'll take it from there.

"Jimmy [Oates- had a slight groin, so that is why he wasn't risked, but he did some work today and had no reaction, so hopefully he'll be fine for Saturday.

"Jamie Willets comes back from holiday tomorrow or tonight at some point, but he'll be available.

"Chris [Parry] also comes back off holiday because he went away for a short weekend and he'll be available hopefully if we get clearance through for him.

"That obviously paints a different picture when all three of them are back and Ryan is not far off."