HEREFORD manager Josh Gowling says some of his side need to look at their performances after suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Hartpury University in Herefordshire County Cup final.

The Bulls led through a Ryan McLean opener before conceding a 78th minute Najee Holder penalty before Emmanuel Bam won the final seven minutes from time.

First team squad members Keenan Patten, Mo Touray, Toby Raison, James Vincent, Yan Klukowski, Pa Njiem Justic Campbell and Sam Fitzgerald all started while Miles Storey played 20 minutes as a substitute.  

“I thought we had an excellent first half and could have put the game to bed in the first half and then we seemed to blow up in the second half and blew out of steam really,” said Gowling.

“I thought they (Hartpury) were excellent, they worked hard, had good endeavour and wanted to win the game.

“If you look at the players we had today they needed the minutes that’s for sure and I think that’s why they were a bit leggy at the end.

“We had some good performances, some not so good.

“It was a trial game for some of the lads today to see where they are at with the remaining games coming up.

“Losing 2-1 is probably not the best and some of them need to look at their performances a little bit. We’ve got to look at next year and we’ve got some tasty fixtures in pre-season.

“You’ve got to look now at who is going to be here next year, every game is a trial game from now until the end of the season.

“But I want to see a bit more than what I saw tonight. It took a 35-year-old in Yan (Klukowski) to run in behind and work for 90 minutes.

“When you look at it for next season and you have younger lads not putting that shift in it makes your decision a bit easier for you.”

Teenager Mark Derricot played a full 90 minutes for the Bulls at centre-half impressing Gowling enough to earn himself a place in pre-season.

“I thought Mark (Derricot) was excellent at centre-half,” added Gowling.

For an 18-year-old to come in and play a game like that was outstanding. It was a great opportunity, he will now be with us in pre-season.

“It was good to look at the young lads, what they can do and how they fit into our first team environment. Some have been good today and got great attitudes.”