AN own-goal by Dean Beckwith five minutes from time settled an entertaining pre-season friendly in favour of League One Bristol City at Edgar Street, writes Richard Prime.

Although results are of little consequence in the pre-season programme, Hereford can count themselves a little unfortunate not to have emerged with a share of the spoils from a competitive encounter.

The visitors fielded what is likely to be the starting line-up in their opening League One encounter in two weeks' time.

But Hereford, in contrast to the Bristol side, who have just returned from a tour of Latvia, still have a little way to go before reaching their peak and finalising their line-up.

On Saturday, there was a chance for Andy Ferrell to try out at left-back, while newcomer Richard Rose occupied a central midfield role alongside Rob Purdie.

The first-half produced plenty of attractive football but there was little in the way of serious activity for either goalkeeper.

The most dangerous moment came from the Robins when a Steve Brooker volley from Dave Cotterill's cross bounced up off the hard ground over Wayne Brown and clipped the bar on its way out of play.

Bristol introduced two substitutes at the interval but it was the Hereford replacement, Stuart Fleetwood, who had the most immediate impact.

John Wallis was felled on the edge of the City penalty area and Fleetwood hammered the resulting free-kick past the wall and into the roof of the net.

Brown, who had earlier made a fine diving save from Phil Jevons, touched another effort from the former Yeovil man over the bar in the 73rd minute before finally being beaten three minutes later. Jennison Williams drove over a cross from the left and Jevons appeared to control the ball with his hand before beating Brown from close range.

Five minutes from time, the issue was settled when Beckwith, in trying to clear a cross from full-back Bradley Orr, sliced the ball into the corner of Brown's net.

Former Rushden and Diamonds centre-half Phil Gulliver, Bulls' latest signing, was given a late 10-minute run-out.

Hereford: Brown, Travis, Ferrell, Rose, Mkandawire (Gulliver 80), Beckwith, Wallis (Gwynne 80), Purdie, Sills (Connell 69), Williams (Fleetwood 46), Sheldon (Jeannin 65).

Attendance: 1,117.