MIDFIELDER Tom Owen-Evans says that the style of football implemented by Hereford manager Josh Gowling is bringing out the best in him.

The 23-year-old is in his third season with the Bulls and earned and scored a penalty in their 3-1 victory over Gosport Borough.

Striker Lenell John-Lewis has missed most of pre-season but scored a brace in the victoy.

Owen-Evans said that having John-Lewis back in the side was a ‘massive difference’.

“To be back out there is one thing and so enjoyable but to come away with the win from what was a tough draw, I’m delighted,” said Owen-Evans.

“With Lenell (John-Lewis) back it makes a massive difference, he takes away the two defenders and it allows me and (Kyle) Finn to have freedom, come in off the wings and join in with him.

“I think we’ve seen that today how much easier it is for us to play alongside him and we looked a threat.

“The ball goes into him and you know it’s going to stick, if he’s not going to hold it up then he’s going to make it hard for the defenders.

“The gaffer said to me to just roll inside and play almost like three strikers up there.

“We could have scored more, I hit the bar, (Kyle) Finn had one cleared off the line and Lenell (John-Lewis) has had another shot which has just gone wide, so we could have scored five or six today.

“In the past we’ve gone more direct but the gaffer this season wants us to play when it’s right to do that. It’s so much more enjoyable for me and brings out the best in me.

“Pre-season is pre-season and looking at our results you might say we’re going to struggle this year but at the end of the day this is our bread and butter, when it’s competitive that’s when we need to win games and we’ve shown that today.”

The Bulls squad now looks completely different to last season and Owen-Evans says it is much more experienced.

“The main ingredient we’ve got this year that we haven’t had in past seasons is we’ve got that experience and steel at the back,” added Owen-Evans.

“If you look at our back four now it’s so experienced and they’ve got so many games under their belt higher up,

“Last year if we had come here then maybe when we were under the cosh at 2-1 then we might fold and draw the game, maybe even lose it.

“But you’ve seen today that we held our shape well, managed the game better and got the result.

“Training has got more of a professional vibe to it.

We’re in Monday and Thursday training and then with Tuesday and Saturday games we’re in four times a week.

“So apart from Fridays we’re basically full-time. If you look around the dressing room now our squad is unbelievable for this level and today was just about going out there and showing people what we had.

“I think we’ve done that.”