A round-up of pre-season friendly matches played on Tuesday night involving Football Conference clubs...
Blue Square Bet South club Bromley continued their impressive pre-season form with a comfortable 3-1 victory at Imperial Fields against Ryman league Premier Division side Tooting & Mitcham United on Tuesday night.
Bromley went in front with their first chance of the match. Nicky Greene played a clever ball over the top of Nigel Brake which Harrison Dunk ran onto before skilfully putting the ball past Luke Garrard.
Bromley extended their lead 4 minutes into the second half when Nic McDonnell played a great through ball for Steve Ferguson who spotted Garrard off his line and chipped the ball over the Tooting keeper with precision.
Tooting did pull a goal back with 13 minutes to play when Paul Honey's shot from the edge of the area evaded the outstretched arm of Jamie Butler before Bromley responded 3 minutes later through ex-Terror Paul Vines.
Blue Square Bet Premier side Rushden & Diamonds beat a good West Bromwich Albion XI 2-1 at Nene Park.
Lee Tomlin's 30-yard run through the West Brom half after 55 minutes ended with an exquisite chip over the keeper after Reuben Reid had given the visitors the lead less than 2 minutes earlier. Tomlin then scored another memorable goal on 76 minutes to give Diamonds the win.
Triallist Rene Howe, transfer-listed by Peterborough United, started for Diamonds in attack.
Blue Square Bet Premier new boys Bath City had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Zamaretto League Division One South & West side Paulton Rovers.
The home side broke the deadlock after 68 minutes through substitute Matt Cooper.
Ten minutes later, City were back on level terms when Sido Jombati crossed for Jake Reid to fire home, having only been on the pitch for 60 seconds.
Substitute Jack Winter earned Blue Square Bet Premier Forest Green Rovers a draw in their New Lawn game against League Two Exeter City.
A strong start to the second period by the away side was rewarded with a goal for Jake Thomson after 56 minutes, but Rovers hit back to level through Winter.
Blue Square Bet South side Welling United gained a 3-0 win at Kent League Holmesdale.
Tommy Whitnell scored the only goal of the opening half after 26 minutes and the Wings added further goals from Daryl Robson and Loui Fazakerley in the final 13 minutes.
Chelmsford City Head Coach Glenn Pennyfather hailed the arrival of his team’s first clean sheet of the season as they prevented Ryman League Division One North side Heybridge Swifts from scoring on a night where goals from Sam Higgins and substitute Rob Edmans saw the Clarets prevail 2-0 at Scraley Road.
Higgins’ header towards the end of the first half, married with Edmans’ strike late in the second, prompted Pennyfather to reveal he’s close to knowing the starting line-up which will face Basingstoke Town away on the opening day of the Blue Square Bet South season, stating: “I think in my mind I’m pretty settled now in what I want to do.”
“I’m pleased with the fact we’ve kept a clean sheet tonight and it was a strong team performance, and to win leagues and trophies you need to do that. I thought tonight when they [Heybridge] did have a sight of our goal we closed it down very quickly and, on the whole, I thought we defended very well as a unit. We’ve taken our chances as this isn’t an easy place to come and we might have to visit here in a cup this season.”
Wayne Bond’s Heybridge side created the initial chance of an opportunity-starved first half when a swerved, 9th-minute effort from distance on the left curled just wide of the far post. At the other end, Higgins lurked with intent at the far post on 33 minutes and a deep cross found him though his path to goal was legally blocked.
Takumi Ake twice tried his luck from long range though the scoring wasn’t opened until 7 minutes before the break. In similar fashion to two of the Clarets’ goals against Maldon & Tiptree it was a corner which initiated the strike. This was quickly worked back down the right flank a few yards before being delivered into the danger zone where Higgins outjumped his marker and headed his third goal in two games.
After half time Chris Thomas’ half-hit effort for Swifts from the edge of the box gave goalkeeper James Pullen something to do as he dived to tip it wide while Chelmsford also threatened as Matthew Lock’s drive with the outside of his boot sailed off-target and a half-volley from Edmans across the face of goal from an angle was deflected wide.
Though Edmans fared better in the 85th minute, remaining alert to nick the ball away from the last defender before sprinting into acres of space and coolly tucking low and wide of ‘keeper Aaron Omand into the net. There was still time for a chance at each end, Scarlett dragging back onto his left boot and forcing Omand into a diving save which Pullen had to match and surpass with a minute left, but that’s how the score remained.
As well as the clean sheet, Pennyfather was also excited with the striking options available, adding: “Sam Higgins played his first full 90 minutes and he’s proving what a handful he’s going to be. Billy Bricknell’s come in for his first game this season and they’re both at fantastic ages. In the squad tonight there were only four players over 25.”
Chelmsford`s league rivals Bishop`s Stortford paid warm complement to Molten Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division hosts Broxbourne Borough by fielding a side near to their starting line-up for the Herts Charity Cup First Round tie.
Boro for their part gave a more than decent performance against opponents plying their trade three rungs higher in the non-League Pyramid before bowing out.
Stotford had the additional class and fire power to march on to a further tie in the competition away to Ryman League Division One North side Ware.
The hosts kept in contention to just before the half time interval, Reece Prestedge firing past Alan Buck on 44 minutes, and were in the driving seat when a mistake by the home custodian let in Duane Jackman to put the visitors 2-0 up after 52 minutes.
Boro enjoyed arguably their best spell in the game after this with second half substitutes Murat Karagul and Bradley Drisdale sharp and inventive.
But in the end the margin was conclusive – Bai-Mas Lette Jellow rapping things up with a fiercely struck strike after 78 minutes.
Blue Square Bet North side Nuneaton Town ran out comfortable winners against Conference Premier outfit Mansfield Town at the Triton Showers Community Arena after two first half goals saw Nuneaton take command.
Rob Oddy converted a penalty on the 23rd minute after Chris Dillon was brought down in the box. This was added to 7 minutes later by Danny Spencer who lashed a stunning 25-yard free kick around the wall and past the static keeper.
The crowd of 442 saw Mansfield, who in their last game had hammered Hucknall Town 6-1, pull one back in when Louis Briscoe met a cross on the back post after losing Oddy.
Tom Berwick sealed the win in the 83rd minute with a simple tap in following a long-range shot spilled by the Mansfield keeper to make it 3-1.
Adam Marriott hit a hat trick for Blue Square Bet Premier Cambridge United after coming off the bench in a 4-0 win at Ryman League Premier Division new boys Bury Town.
The teenage striker scored his first just 3 minutes after his 61st minute entrance. It came after Adam Miller had blasted a powerful low 25-yard drive into the bottom corner around the half-hour mark.
Marriott slotted home from a tight angle with a cool finish after good work by Danny Wright for his second, before completing his treble 7 minutes from time after Bury substitute keeper Nick Pope spilled a long-range effort from James Jennings.
Blue Square Bet South side Dorchester Town shared a 4-4 draw with Zamaretto Premier Bashley.
The Magpies raced into a 3-0 lead at the break with Ryan Moss, Jake Smeeton and Nick Crittenden on target.
However, Dorchester let their guard down in the second period, allowing their hosts to overturn the deficit with goals from Gary Middleton, Tom Hill, Ian Oliver and Dominic Allen.
There was to be one final twist though, as second half substitute Jamie Gleeson bagged a last-gasp equaliser to spare the county town outfit’s blushes.
An Arsenal XI secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bblue Square Bet South newcomers Boreham Wood, who managed just two shots on target all evening.
Mark Randall bagged the first for the young Gunners, beating the keeper from 50 yards. Benik Afobe added a second after being played through by Chuks Aneke at the end of the first half.
An own goal concluded matters in the final minutes of the game.
Another Premiership giant, Manchester United, sent a youthful second string to Blue Square Bet Premier Altrincham`s Moss Lane and won 2-0.
Robert Brady put United ahead on the half-hour mark from 30 yards with a shot which left Altry keeper Stuart Coburn wrong-footed.
Joe Dudgeon made it 2-0 after 75 minutes after Keane's effort had come back off the bar.
There were three penalties in Blue Square Bet Premier Wrexham`s 2-2 draw at Principality Welsh Premier hosts Airbus UK Broughton.
The Dragons fell behind to an Andy Moran penalty, but the visitors responded with two penalties of their own after the break, both converted by Gareth Taylor.
The only goal from open play was scored by the impressive Jake Cassidy for Airbus, a player who has been drawing the scouts to watch Airbus' games in pre-season.
Blue Square Bet North side Harrogate Town's pre-season preparations continued to run along smoothly after a convincing 3-0 victory over Evo-Stik League Division One North neighbours Harrogate Railway at the CNG Stadium.
The win secured the return of the John Smith's Trophy and once winger Wayne Phillips opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, Town never looked back.
Graeme Armstrong doubled the lead on the hour and triallist Danny Wright wrapped up the game with a header on 75 minutes.
Another derby friendly between Evo-Stik Premier side Marine and Blue Square Bet Premier new boys Southport ended honours even at Rossett Park.
Shaun Gray’s last-minute free kick earned `Port a draw after Jamie Rainford had put the home side ahead on 17 minutes.
