SHERJILL MacDonald scored his first senior goal in Albion colours as Tony Mowbray's men eased to a 2-0 win at Edgar Street.

The Dutchman netted Albion's second goal on 57 minutes after setting-up Darren Carter's opener just six minutes earlier.

MacDonald, Nathan Ellington and Stuart Nicholson all went close for the Baggies, with Hereford substitutes Luke Webb and Kris Taylor having the home side's best chances.

Leon Barnett, Albion's £2.5million signing from Luton, made his debut for the visitors, alongside makeshift centre-half Ronnie Wallwork, in an Albion side which had a blend of youth and experience.

Mowbray went for a three-man forward line of Ellington, MacDonald and Nicholson for the club's fifth summer friendly.

Albion were on the back foot early on when Clint Easton's shot was turned away for a first-minute corner by Martin Albrechtsen.

The Baggies' first attack on goal came after 11 minutes when Carter's lofted pass was collected by Ellington.

The 'Duke' nipped past Hutchinson but his left-wing cross was headed clear by Carl Broadhurst as Nicholson prepared to pounce.

Hereford were the brighter of the two sides early on as Albion settled into the game.

Easton forced Luke Daniels into a save on 15 minutes when he was quickest to react to a loose ball after Barnett cleared a Lloyd cross.

Easton's half-volley lacked power and was easily held by the Baggies keeper.

Steve Guinan went close for the League Two club six minutes later when he rose above Wallwork to reach a header from a deflected cross but his final touch lacked the power to put Daniels under any pressure.

A neat Albion move in the 25th minute was finished off by Richard Chaplow's wayward 25-yard shot, which flew over Brown's goal.

The midfielder struck a sweet shot after Hutchinson had cleared the ball straight into his path after intercepting Ellington's through ball to Nicholson.

At the other end, Guinan managed to squeeze the ball into the back of the net after reacting swiftly to Easton's quickly-taken free-kick but the linesman already had his flag up for offside.

The first-half tedium was almost broken just after the half-hour mark with Albion's best move of the half when David Worrall's clever ball on the edge of the area picked out Nicholson on the right-hand side of the six-yard box.

Nicholson jinked past Rose but his low cross was intercepted by keeper Brown as Ellington raced in to pounce at the near post.

Hereford almost broke the deadlock five minutes before the interval when Guinan peeled away from Wallwork to get on the end of Callum Lloyd's low centre.

The home side were denied by Daniels, who was well placed to keep out Guinan's six-yard shot.

Albion were given a further wake-up call just moments later when Guinan, once again, got in front of Wallwork only to plant his header over from Smith's cross.

The Baggies' final chance of the first-half came just before the break when Carter's 30-yard effort sailed just wide of Brown's right-hand post.

Albion were quickest out of the blocks in the second half.

MacDonald brushed past McClenahan and smashed a low shot to Carl Lewis's right.

The shot beat United's sub keeper, hit the inside of the post and rolled agonisingly across the face of goal before being scrambled away by the Hereford backline.

Ellington again asked questions of McClenahan when he out-muscled the Hereford right-back on 49 minutes and raced through unchallenged only to plant his angled shot just wide of Lewis's left-hand post.

Albion's dominance paid off in the 51st minute when MacDonald played in Carter, who turned away from Hutchinson and curled a right-footed shot into the bottom corner from just outside the 18-yard box.

Hereford were almost punished moments later when the defence switched off, allowing Ellington a free run on goal.

The Baggies striker's deflected shot lacked power and was easily held by Lewis.

A tremendous pass from MacDonald released Nicholson on 55 minutes.

The Baggies striker took the ball in his stride but Hereford defender Broadhurst did just enough to nip in front of the Albion man.

But Hereford's good fortune soon ran out.

MacDonald, who came alive after the break, doubled Albion's lead in the 57th minute when he raced through on goal and struck a low shot past Lewis.

Mowbray brought Barnett's debut to an end just before the hour mark, bringing on Michael Nardiello as a 59^th-minute substitute.

Hereford's first sight of goal after the break came in the 65th minute when substitutes Simon Johnson and Luke Webb combined to carve open Albion's back line.

West Bromwich-born Johnson eased past Albrechtsen to play in a pass for Webb, whose planted shot was palmed away by sub keeper Luke Steele. Kris Taylor's follow-up shot was well over.

It was back to business for Albion in the 73rd minute when MacDonald and Chaplow exchanged a one-two, with the midfielder's 18-yard shot being saved by Lewis, the far busier of the two keepers.

Chaplow was forced off 13 minutes from time after picking up an ankle injury as Hereford pushed forward in search of a consolation.

Taylor went close in the 87th minute, only to see his low shot fly just wide of Steele's post.

HEREFORD (4-4-2): Brown (Lewis HT); McClenahan, Hutchinson (McComb 56), Broadhurst, Rose; John (Ainsworth 75), Gwynne (Fitzpatrick 70), Smith (Taylor 56), Easton (Webb 56); Guinan (Palmer 70), Zebrowski (Johnson 56).

ALBION (4-3-3): Daniels (Steele HT); Albrechtsen, Wallwork, Barnett (Nardiello 59), Mason; Worrall, Chaplow (Nicholls 77), Carter; Nicholson, Ellington, MacDonald (Morrison 84).

BOOKINGS: None.

ATTENDANCE: 1,405.

ALBION STAR MAN: Darren Carter.

PIC: FEELING BULLISH...Goalscorers MacDonald and Carter celebrate the former's strike