MAJORITY shareholder Tommy Agombar praised Hereford United’s first match in the Southern League Premier Division as “a wonderful day” for the club.

The Bulls, who were demoted two divisions this summer after being kicked out of the Football Conference, began their campaign with a 2-0 defeat to St Neots Town at Edgar Street.

A crowd of 568 watched the match but around 350 people also staged a peaceful protest outside the ground to vent their frustration and anger at the club’s new regime.

Agombar said: “I am over the moon with the attendance.

“All these fans that have come out and supported the club, they are lovely people.

“I met a majority of them and they are lovely people. I am just pleased they are here.

“I am just sorry the supporters who were outside did not feel like coming in and supporting their club but it’s their prerogative.

“It was a peaceful protest so you can’t moan about it. I would love to be able to get them back onside.

“It has been a wonderful day and I thank all the fans for turning up and they have supported the club.

“The players on the pitch were unbelievable and they gave it their all. We could have come back with a result had we taken our chances in the first-half but that’s life.”

Hereford fell behind in the 61st minute to Matt Nolan’s strike and St Neots doubled their advantage in stoppage-time when Nathan Frater converted the rebound after Luke Williams had saved Jay Davies’ penalty.

United manager Jon Taylor said: “I was disappointed. In the first-half we had three or four really good chances and we should have put half of them away.

“I thought we had a lot of possession, the boys worked very hard in the first-half and we looked the better side.

“But they were an experienced team, well-drilled and well-disciplined, played some good football and they did resort in the end to route one and caught us out a couple of times.”

Hereford: Williams, Knott (Oyibo 48), Roberts, O’Neill, Morrison, Gregory, Ramirez (Mareira 88), Yafai (Gilroy 74), Eubanks, Akinde, Lewars. Subs: O’Reilly, Martinez.

Attendance: 568.