HEREFORD boss Paul Caddis was left reflecting on five minutes off ‘madness’ that saw central defender sent off before his side conceded two goals, resulting in a 2-2 draw at Halesowen Town.

A trialist opened the scoring for Hereford before Cosmos Matwasa netted as second as the Bulls looked in full control in the friendly match.

However, Preston’s sending off resulted in a swing of momentum with a trialist pulling a goal back and substitute McKauley Manning equalised.

“I thought we managed the game pretty well until the sending off,” said Caddis. “Then we had seven minutes of nervousness, a bit of madness.

“We’re disappointed with that and with the red card as well. It was a good test for us. We went 2-0 up without any massive pressure in the first half.

“There was just a bit of a moment of madness and I’m just glad it has happened in games like pre-season.”

Halesowen, who sit a league below Hereford in the non-league pyramid, started on the front foot and almost took the lead after five minutes with Conor Tee driving at the defence before seeing his low effort saved by Aaron Chapman.

Ben Cassidy was next to go close on eight minutes driving at the Bulls’ defence before seeing his effort deflected over.

From the resulting corner the Halesowen trialist headed down inside the box forcing Chapman into a fine save.

However, Hereford took a 30th minute lead when Alex Babos released marksman Andy Williams who beat the last defender and pulled the ball back for a trialist to net.

Ten minutes later Caddis’ side doubled their lead after a long throw-in by Babos found the looping header of Matwasa whose effort beat the fingertips of goalkeeper Dan Platt.

However, the game turned on the 67th minute mark when Preston was dispossessed by Adi Yussuf. The Bulls defender took evasive action bringing down the Yeltz man and was sent off.

Three minutes later Halesowen pulled a goal back when Jack Hickman’s crossed onto the head of a trialist who beats goalkeeper Aaron Chapman from close range.

The comeback was complete on 72 minutes when Manning escaped the defence before rounding the goalkeeper and scoring from a tight angle.

Halesowen could have taken the lead six minutes later when Luke Postie ghosted in at the back post but sent his free header wide.

Hereford had a late flurry of their own and nine minutes from time Babos beat two markers out wide before flashing a cross across the face of goal.

Halesowen almost had a last gasp winner when Hickman's free-kick found Ryan Wollacott unmarked at the back post but goalkeeper Chapman made a fine save.

Hereford: Chapman, Hudson, Campbell, Preston, D'Ath, Babos, Cowley, Williams, Matwasa, Howkins, Trialist

Subs: Trialists x2, Gibson, Derricott, Rooney, Teixeira