Match Report | Hereford 1-1 Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury Town Hereford played out a 1-1 draw at Edgar Street in what was Town's penultimate friendly of the summer.

Billy Phillips gave the hosts an early lead in Herefordshire.

But from that point, Salop were comfortably the better side with chances and coming and going for Josh Davison, Will Boyle, Isaac England, Isaac Fletcher and Sam Stubbs.

That pattern continued after the interval until George Lloyd finally scored with a sensational strike from 20 yards.

After that, Joe Gbode, Kevin Berkoe and Jeval Thompson-McKenzie all went close to securing what would have been a deserved win.

But in the end, Salop had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Team news:

Manager Gavin Cowan opted for a 3-4-1-2 formation for the penultimate friendly of the summer.

Will Brook started in goal with Sam Stubbs, Will Boyle and Isaac Lee making up the back three.

Arkell Jude-Boyd started at right wing-back with Byron Pendleton on the left and Isaac England and Jay Turner-Cooke in the middle of the park.

Isaac Fletcher operated in the 10 role behind a front two of Josh Davison and George Lloyd.

Report:

It was the hosts who flew out the blocks at Edgar Street with Phillips giving them the lead inside the opening five minutes.

The goal was well taken with the forward collecting the ball on the edge of the box before arrowing it into the bottom corner.

Town came close to an equaliser when England delivered a wonderfully inviting cross that Davison was millimetres away from connecting with.

Turner-Cooke's corner was then powerfully headed over the bar by Stubbs.

The chances kept coming for Town with Jude-Boyd and Lloyd combining well to find Fletcher who sent a delicate chip inches over the bar.

Hereford showed they still carried an attacking threat when Cawley Cox saw a low drive pushed away by Brook.

But it was Salop who were consistently knocking at the door with England producing a wonderful effort from 18 yards that Theo Richardson did brilliantly to tip around the post.

The chances kept coming for Cowan's men with Stubbs slipping in Davison who fired agonisingly wide.

Moments later, after a corner was only half-cleared, Fletcher struck a half-volley that looked destined for the net before it was nodded off the line by a recovering defender.

Salop created one final opening before the interval when Jude-Boyd delivered another dangerous cross into the box, but Lloyd's header flew over the crossbar.

Hereford created the first chance after the interval with Liam Roberts entering the box before seeing an effort parried away by Brook.

Boyle then nodded a corner wide for Town.

Salop started making changes as the clock ticked past the hour mark.

First, Tom Sang and Kevin Berkoe replaced Turner-Cooke and Pendleton.

Town finally got the equaliser they deserved in the 66th minute - and when it arrived, it arrived in style.

Jude-Boyd played a lovely ball down the line to find Lloyd. But the striker still had so much to do and produced a strike of the highest quality to curl the ball into the top corner for 20 yards.

Within seconds, Town were a whisker from going ahead with Sang's corner powerfully header over by Stubbs.

Boyle then saw another header from a set-piece claimed by the keeper.

Town were looking really dangerous from set-plays with Gbode's header brilliant kept out by Richardson.

Salop were left scratching their heads how they didn't score yet again moments later when Jude-Boyd curled a brilliant strike inches past the post.

The closing stages were all Salop with Jeval Thompson-McKenzie seeing a shot blocked before Kevin Berkoe fired over from close range.

Teams:

Hereford: Richardson, Hudson, Merrett, Cox, Waldron (Williamson 46), Spokes, Roberts, James, Bitemo, Phillips (Tolley 83), Howkins.

Shrewsbury: Brook, Stubbs, Boyle, Lee, Jude-Boyd, England (Gray 80), Turner-Cooke (Sang 61), Pendleton (Berkoe 61), Fletcher (Thompson-McKenzie 80), Davison, Lloyd (Gbode 71).

Subs not used: Proctor, Falding.