HEREFORD manager Josh Gowling says that the midfield will be a ‘key area’ for recruiting during the next month as they prepare for the new season. The Bulls played out a 2-1 defeat at Stourbridge on Tuesday night when they fielded a stronger side in the first half and a host of trialists in the second. Trialist striker, believed to be Jason Cowley, put the Bulls ahead in the first half before a whole host of changes allowed Stourbridge back into the tie. They eventually equalised through Richard Peniket before Andre Landell’s penalty secured the hosts victory six minutes from time. “We worked on some things yesterday in training and it was really pleasing in the first half an hour of the game that we implemented them well so that was really pleasing,” said Gowling. “The second half was a team of trialists, so the score doesn’t reflect the game. I was really pleased with the first half, we worked on a few patterns in play as looking at the Newport game we didn’t create enough and we weren’t good enough on the ball in certain areas.” Gowling praised the trialist striker Cowley who scored his side’s only goal, and also went close with a long-range effort in the first half. “We have got Lenell (John-Lewis) of course, Demitri (Brown) is a strong boy who can keep the ball up well and can run in behind and Jason is a poacher,” added Gowling. “Jason works hard, he listens in training and wants to progress. He’s been with us from the start of pre-season and he encapsulates the environment we want. “We have got a back three at the moment, our strikers are fairly sorted so if you look at that midfield area we haven’t really got anyone. “That’s the priority and if we’re looking to play football then that’s got to be the key area. We’ve got to make sure that’s right.” Gowling says that he will now speak to the board and that they need to ‘balance the budget’ when considering new signings. We’ve got a small squad at the moment and will probably have a small squad going into the season,” added Gowling. “We’ve got to look at that and weight up what’s best for the squad as a whole. There are a couple of lads we’re impressed with and we’ve got to go to the board now and speak to them. If they’re happy with it we will look to do something. “There are a couple of lads that are very promising and as long as they want to be with us then they’ve got a realistic chance of being here."