Hereford FC 0

Cardiff City XI 2

Crole 31; Leahy 80

 

A CARDIFF CITY XI side came away with a 2-0 victory at Edgar Street with a goal in each half from James Crole and Jack Leahy.

Cardiff brought a strong side to Hereford consisting of first team squad players along with under-23s keen to impress.

However, it was Hereford who had the opening chance after a few minutes with Tyrone Barnett releasing a trialist but the Cardiff goalkeeper was off his line quickly to intercept his run.

At the opposite end Crole cut inside from out wide before floating his effort across goal and over the target.

The biggest chance came for the Bluebirds on 18 minutes with Crole rising high to meet a Mark McGuiness cross but sending his effort over.

A Hereford trialist, who scored a hat-trick at Coalville, broke down the right quickly before sending his effort across goal and just wide.

However, on 31 minutes Cardiff were ahead when a Bulls clearance was blocked straight into the path of Crole.

Goalkeeper Wade came flying out but Crole beat him with a suspicion of handball and then tapped the ball into an empty net.

Minutes later Curtis Nelson had a chance to double his side’s lead heading a free-kick down but Wade was on hand to tip the effort over.

Moments before the half-time break another Hereford trialist played a quick one-two with Thierry Latty-Fairweather before searching for the trialist forward who just failed to meet the ball.

Cardiff should have doubled their lead on the hour mark but Cian Ashford blazed his effort over from five yards out.

Ashford had another opportunity on 69 minutes after Cardiff had broke into the Bulls box but teenage full-back Harrison Summers was on hand with a last-ditch challenge.

Jack Leahy sealed the win for Cardiff with 10 minutes remaining heading home after a well worked move by the visitors.

Hereford had one last effort before the final whistle with Justice Campbell driving at the Cardiff defence before sending his effort over the crossbar.

Hereford: Wade, Haines, Lloyd, Storey, Hodgkiss, Durojaiye, Trialist, Trialist, Latty-Fairweather, Pendley, Barnett

Subs: Pinchard, Osment, Lilly, Evans, McLean, Summers, Derricott