Hereford got the season off to a winning start with a 3-0 victory at home to South Shields.

The home side took the lead in the 26th minute through debutant Montel Gibson.

Andy Williams then doubled the lead early on in the second half before Yusifu Ceesay made it three in the 82nd minute.

The win puts Hereford third in the league whilst South Shields sit bottom.

Paul Caddis made two changes to the side that drew to Newport County in the final game of pre-season with Ceesay and Matt Preston coming in for Preston Bitemo and Cosmos Matwasa.

Elliott Dickman also made two alterations to the Mariners side from their last game of pre-season with Coleby Shepherd and Robert Briggs replacing Bryan Taylor and Ewan McGowan.

The Bulls started the brighter of the two sides but it was the visitors who had the first decent chance in the 13th minute when, after a quick break Paul Blackett was played in down the right side of the box but his shot was deflected just wide of the far post.

South Shields, who were now on top, had another good opportunity just three minutes later when Blackett pulled the ball back dangerously into the box forcing Aaron Chapman into an excellent save from close range.

The flurry of chances for the away side continued when Blackett beat Chapman to a ball over the top, he then got a shot off from the edge of the box but Lewis Hudson was back to clear off the line.

Hereford took the lead in the 26th minute when a misplaced pass from Shepherd put Gibson through on goal who slotted it past the keeper and into the bottom right for a goal on his debut.

Dickman’s side had a great chance to equalise in the 31st minute when Blackett beat D’Ath to a ball over the top, he then rounded Chapman but the midfielder was back to clear off the line heroically.

Right on the cusp of half-time, Alex Babos had a great chance when the ball dropped to him inside the area after a Williams flick across the box but his shot was straight at the feet of Myles Boney meaning that the first half finished 1-0.

Caddis’ side got off to a flying start in the second 45 when Babos fired a ball into the box for Williams who brought it down brilliantly and fired it just under the bar to make it two.

Gibson had the chance to get his second of the game just past the hour mark when a long ball over the top from Chapman dropped to the striker, he brought it down with an excellent first touch but his finish did not match as he fired wide.

In the 82nd minute, Tate Campbell broke forward down the right wing and played a perfect ball across to Ceesay who fired it into the bottom left first time to round off a brilliant display and end the game 3-0.

Hereford FC XI- A. Chapman, M. Preston, K. Howkins, L. Hudson, S. Robinson (P. Bitemo 80’), L. D’Ath, T. Campbell, Y. Ceesay (A. Teixeira 87’), A. Babos (M. Derricott 90’), M. Gibson (A. Skinner 72’), A. Williams (A. Rooney 90’)

South Shields XI- M. Boney, C. Shepherd, J. Bramwell, T. Broadbent, M. Heaney, R. Briggs, D. Ward, W. Jenkins, A. Mee (E. McGowan 59’), P. Blackett, A. Rutledge (K. Crossley 59’)