HEREFORD burst into life in their National League North opener and recorded an impressive 3-0 win against full-time outfit South Shields.

The Mariners finished five points and three positions above Hereford last season and beat them comfortably at Edgar Street.

The visitor’s top scorer Paul Blackett scored 30 goals last season and showed his intent from the 13th minute firing an effort across goal and just wide.

Ashton Mee then caught Hereford with a searching run before Blackett pulled the ball back and Aaron Chapman was forced into a reaction save.

Chapman was called into action again moments later as he came racing out of his goal only to be rounded by Blackett. However, Bulls’ skipper Lewis Hudson was on hand to clear off the goal-line.

However, it was Hereford who had a 26th minute lead after Coleby Shepherd’s loose pass found Montel Gibson in acres of space and he slotted past the weekend.

Blackett always proved a threat in the first half and raced away on the counter-attack only for Chapman to get a hand to the ball before Hudson cleared.

The Hereford goalkeeper was forced back into action before the break after Lawson D’Ath had his clearance chased down resulting in Ward having a low effort saved.

Paul Caddis’ side finished the first half with a flourish and as the ball pinged around the visitors’ box Alex Babos saw his close-range effort denied by goalkeeper Myles Boney.

Just three minutes into the second half Hereford doubled their lead with Babos crossing for Andy Williams who controlled the ball and then fired home off the crossbar.

With a two-goal advantage Hereford sat tight in their shape and denied the Mariners any hope of finding a way back into the game.

That was until six minutes from time when Tate Campbell made a surging run before finding Yusifu Ceesay in front of goal to net and put the game to bed.

“I thought to a man we were excellent,” said Hereford boss Caddis. “It was a brilliant win, but it’s game one of 46, we don’t want to get too high or low.

“They are a good side and probably the only team that we’ll play against that play a diamond (formation) and play it really well.

“They’re well coached, are full-time and you can see that in their patterns of play and the types of players they have got.

“They caused us problems at times. We had a game-plan and the patience from the supporters was really appreciated. We had to try and smoother and middle of the pitch and we did it really well.”

Hereford: Chapman, Hudson, Campbell, Preston, D'Ath, Gibson (Skinner 72), Babos (Derricott 90+1), Williams (Rooney 90+1), Ceesay (Teixeira 88), Robinson (Bitemo 81), Howkins