HEREFORD suffered their first defeat of pre-season after going three goals behind against Birmingham City under-21s and despite pulling two goals back they were beaten 3-2.

The young and organised City side were 3-0 ahead with just 50 minutes on the clock, before Andy Williams pulled a goal back and an own goal for the visitors concluded the scoring.

A young Birmingham side were up for the challenge and on eight minutes as Daniel Ischei flashed an effort across Hereford's goal and wide.

Ischei was causing a host of problems and cut in from outside before forcing a low save from goalkeeper Aaron Chapman.

Chapman was caught out moments later after coming charging out to deny Ellis O’Shea before being rounded only for trialist Travis Johnson to sweep the ball off the goal-line.

Hereford tried to muster a response and skipper Lewis Hudson saw his effort blocked before Cosmos Matwasa had a shot saved.

However, it was Birmingham who took a 41st minute lead with Ischei turning inside the box and firing into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later the visitors struck again this time on the counter-attack as Junior Dixon beat Johnson to the ball before rounding the goalkeeper and scoring.

Paul Caddis’s side started the second half on the front foot and Alex Babos saw his effort from a promising position saved.

However, Hereford were hit by a sucker punch as Dixon found space for Ischei who crossed to an unmarked Sioyani Perglov to score.

Dixon had a chance to make it four after 54 minutes, but this time goalkeeper Chapman was down quickly at his feet to save.

On the hour mark Hereford pulled a goal back after Hudson beat his man out wide before crossing for Williams to head home.

Williams had a chance to head home his second on 74 minutes, but while stretching sent his effort over.

Hereford had their second on 76 minutes when Babos' long throw-in was flicked on by William and into a crowd of players before the ball ended in the net.

Defender Matt Preston came close twice in as many minutes later on firstly seeing his effort tipped over by the goalkeeper and then rattling the post with a volley from the subsequent corner.

“I thought we were poor for 60 or 70 minutes,” said Bulls’ manager Caddis. “I’m happy with the character that we tried to get back into the game. However, I’m not silly, Birmingham made a lot of changes and had a lot of young lads on the pitch in the last 20 minutes.

“I thought they (Birmingham) were excellent, they were sharper than us and reacted better.”

Hereford: Chapman, Hudson, Campbell, Babos, Cowley, Williams, Preston, Johnson, Teixeira, Matwasa, Howkins

Subs: Derricott, Rooney, Burrows, Trialists x2