This weekend Abergavenny travelled to Hereford for the last of their pre-season friendlies. The Abergavenny team boasted no less than seven players less than 18 years of age, so Hereford were always going to be challenged for pace in all areas of the park.

Sure enough pushback enabled the Abergavenny pack to maraud the Hereford defence, and within two minutes the ball was in the back of the opposition net, courtesy of a well drilled shot by a more mature Kevin Phillips.

The Hereford ‘keeper was soon fishing the ball back out of the net three minutes later from a deflected shot knocked in by Gareth Brinn, playing in a right wing position, though the power, pace and accuracy of Alex Scholefield was the main factor in this goal.

With 2 down Hereford were on the brink of a cricket score, with shots from Tom McGlynn, Nick Fackrell, Andy Banks, and Anthony Clements all being either saved by the on form keeper, or narrowly missing the target.

Towards the end of the first half Hereford started putting some moves together, and were awarded a short (penalty) corner. However, Alex McGlynn, was more than equal to the task, making a good save to his left, and placing the ball squarely in the face of the left back Geraint Davies.

On the restart, it was back to business as usual for Abergavenny, with a consummate display of individual talent from Anthony Clements, finding the corner of the net just two minutes into the second half. A second goal by man of the match Gareth Brinn, and a storming run from the centre of defence by Rikki McGlynn completely finished Hereford off.

This makes it 3 wins from 3 in the pre season warm up. The team looks to be functioning well, with key positions in midfield filled by Kevin Phillips and the sublime Tom McGlynn, fire power up front from Clements et al, and a solid defence of Harry Morgan and Rikki McGlynn in centre, with Davies and Fackrell in the wingback positions.
Fackrell must be looking forward to the home game against Swansea next week with relish, and must be keeping a beady eye on the promotion possibilities.

MOM: Gareth Brinn
DOD: Anthony Clements