PRE-SEASON ROUND UP

noreply@blogspirit.com (Danny) — Thu, 11 Aug 2005 13:25:00 +0200

Well it all started 4 weeks ago and here we are 12 matches later embarking on our second campaign in the Southern League.

This has been one of the busiest pre-seasons that has given the management team an opportunity to look at a large number of players and reduce the squad to manageable proportions. Gone are the days of just one pre-season "Possibles v. Probables" games, for as well as the matches training has been stepped up so that the players should hit the start of the season at optimum fitness.

4 weeks ago we visited Tilbury, and in a closely fought encounter drew 1-1 thanks to an equaliser from Hasan Kardal. Tilbury had a lot of new players on show and had beaten Dartford earlier in the week. The following Tuesday saw a number of trialists and squad players face London APSA, and a ding-dong tussle saw the visitors win 4-3. Kadri Alagoz had plenty of penalty practice putting the ball away 3 times, although his third attempt was disallowed. Two days later and more new players were given a run out against a Dagenham & Redbridge side. Robert Still scored our equaliser in a 1-1 draw. Then on the Saturday we went to Hertford and found ourselves 2-0 down inside 11 minutes. 2 goals in the final 4 minutes from Jermaine Hughes earned another draw.

Then we entertained Gravesend & Northfleet in the first game under lights. Liam Daish's squad included at least 6 first teamers, but we ran the game from the off winning 3-0 thanks to goals by Jermaine Hughes, Wesley Thomas and Darren Duporte. The following evening a hastily arranged match against Redbridge saw The Stags come from behind to win 2-1.

On Saturday 30th July we visited Southend Manor. Darren Duporte (2) and Leon McKenzie were our scorers in a 3-2 victory. Then followed 3 games in 3 days. A visit to Brimsdown Rovers saw us undone by former Forest player Steve Shaw who scored their winner in a 2-1 result. The following evening Grays Athletic provided the opposition, again fielding an experienced squad. Both sides were well matched and after Wesley Thomas had sprung their offside trap to give us the lead, a late penalty ensured that honours were even. The third game of the week saw Sporting Bengal win 2-1 here.

Last Monday Dagenham & Redbridge visited again, and this time we took the game to them. Leon McKenzie and Wesley Thomas put us 2-0 up only for a penalty to be conceded on the stroke of half-time. Richard Georgiou converted a penalty for us just after the break and Wesley made it 4-1, before 2 late goals brought Dagenham back into the game. With almost the last kick Hasan Kardal made it 5-3.

The following evening probably our youngest squad went back to Tilbury, but this time lost 1-0 to Eton Manor. The final pre-season game was on Thursday against Brimsdown. The result was not available when this article was written

So now onto the serious stuff . . .

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PRE-SEASON ROUND UP