Both managers will have taken plenty away from an entertaining pre-season friendly – with AFC Telford United rather unlucky to finish on the losing side.
The Bucks were the dominant force for much of this match, and boss Andy Sinton – currently away in Portugal – will doubtless have been pleased by the feedback from his assistant Darren Read.
“I couldn’t have wished for a better performance against top opposition,” said Read.
“We proved that we’re building a team that’s going to be there or thereabouts when the season starts.
“We’re playing to the players’ strengths and hopefully we’ll be ready for the Hyde game on August 14 and going for the kill.”
Hereford fielded several trialists and their new manager Simon Davey will have been pleased to see his side given a thorough examination by their lower level hosts.
Telford had much the better of the first period, with their Football League visitors failing to create a meaningful chance.
The Bulls were under pressure, and cracked in the last minute of the half when new signing Michael Townsend gave away possession. Midfielder Jon Adams accepted the gift for the hosts, breaking into the box and lashing an unstoppable drive past goalkeeper Adam Bartlett.
Hereford chief Davey made eight changes at the interval and the side that took the field was, on paper at least, much stronger.
Read used all nine of Telford’s substitutes during the second half as well.
But they were breached on 72 minutes, when Barnsley loanee O’Neil Thompson beat Shane Killock on the left and whipped in a peach of a cross for Frenchman Mathieu Manset, who made no mistake with his header.
Trialist keeper Daniel Platt pulled off a fine save from Sean Canham to keep the Bucks level on 79 minutes but, from the resulting corner, Thompson drove a shot in through a crowded penalty area to win it 2-1 for the Bulls.
By Chris Hudson