Hereford United 1 West Bromwich Albion 2 TWO goals from million-pound striker Craig Beattie gave West Bromwich Albion a win at Edgar Street West Brom, who fielded a youthful side, almost took the lead in the fourth minute when Beattie, a £1.25m signing from Celtic, rattled a post with a fierce drive.

But Hereford were swiftly on the attack, too, and Steve Guinan’s shot after a Jerry Ani pass was parried away by goalkeeper Mickeal Dudek.

After 12 minutes, triallist Leroy Jamieson should have opened the scoring when he broke through, but failed to get his shot in and was dispossessed.

Both sides continued to press forward and there were opportunities at each end.

Kris Taylor got behind the defence and saw his cross cleared to safety.

Then Bartosz Slusarski should have hit the target when through but blazed well wide.

Hereford took the lead five minutes into the second period when Jamieson’s corner was knocked back across goal by Guinan for Ani to head in.

Matt Done and Ani both went close to adding to the lead with good efforts as Hereford piled forward.

On 62 minutes, Hereford made three changes and the visitors equalised within 90 seconds when Beattie crashed home.

And, two minutes later, Garry Breen missed a cross from David Worrell and the ball reached Slusarski whose shot was brilliantly parried away by Craig Samson.

But Hereford’s defence went to sleep again on 75 minutes, leaving Beattie unmarked in yards of space to head his second.

Hereford: Samson; Rose, Beckwith (MacLeod, 76 min), Oji (Breen, 62 min), Threlfall; Jamieson (Gwynne, 76 min), Diagouraga (Jones, 83 min), Taylor (Easton, 62 min), Done (Easton, 62 min); Guinan (Hudson-Odoi, 55 min), Ani (Johnson, 70 min).

West Bromwich Albion: Danek, Hodgkiss, Tinowho, Labadie, Pele, Baker, Worrell, Allayw (Nabi, 84 min), Beattie, Slusarski, Dorrans.

Referee: Peter Gibbs.

Attendance: 1,692 (483 from West Bromwich).