A round-up of Wednesday`s pre-season matches involving Football Conference clubs...
Glenn Pennyfather claims the Clarets’ six-goal bonanza with a Leyton Orient side at Melbourne on Wednesday night helped to ‘answer questions’ he had of the players on show and, with Rob Edmans bagging a brace on his return, City’s Head Coach hinted at a more settled squad to move forward with in the remaining friendlies.
Striker Edmans (pictured) netted twice, with triallist Jamie Davis scoring in-between, as Chelmsford took a two-goal lead into the interval. A fight back by the young but talented side from Brisbane Road saw the match finish all-square, but Pennyfather had much more than the result to focus on during a night where he ran the rule over twenty players altogether.
“At times we passed it well,” he summarised after the match. “It got scrappy as well because of the amount of changes we were making and people not knowing individuals’ names. It was nice to see Robbie got on the score sheet. He’s back and he’s worked ever so hard in pre-season and he’s started with two goals, which is fantastic.”
Six newcomers made their first starts in a Claret shirt. In defence, Elliott Babbs was appearing against some of the Orient youths he used to play with, while Giovanni Gaudoux arrived from French League football and Bobby Aisien from closer to home at Rushden & Diamonds. Hasan Sulaiman, an ex-Arsenal youth prospect, also appeared as did Takumi Ake, who was a late starter amongst Newport County’s title-winning side last year. Goalscorer Davis is a former Tottenham Hotspur and Team Bath midfielder.
Within the 1st minute Sulaiman looked to make a quick impact as he shot over for the Clarets but the first blow was reserved for Edmans, who struck on 13 minutes. Davis displayed a weighted touch to knock the ball between defenders and in front of Edmans, who galloped forward and nicked under goalkeeper Thomas Lovelock into the net.
This triggered a succession of goals and it took merely three minutes for Orient to restore parity. Moses Obujado progressed with the ball down the right and brought a save out of City custodian James Pullen, but the parry fell ideally for the predatory Billy Loboit who finished from a few yards. Then, on 18 minutes, Davis turned goalscorer at the other end when his whistling effort from the edge of the area found its way past Lovelock.
Loboit turned out to be one of the visitors’ star performers on the night and he was determined to add to his earlier conversion around the middle of the period. Firstly he robbed a hesitant Aisien of the ball in a dangerous area before looping into the side netting. He also went on to strike a separate effort across the face, low and wide.
Though the late first half plaudits went to Edmans again, who seemed determined to make up for missing City’s opening friendly as an injury precaution. He was persistant on 40 minutes to power inside from the left and get the final touch which diverted the ball over the line from close range. And he could have completed his hat-trick in the final minute though he latched onto a deep pass and lobbed into the side-netting.
Pennyfather introduced four players from the bench after half-time, and made a total of nine substitutions, which mixed-up the pattern of play for the Clarets. The visitors were more settled as a result and the second half was very much their time to shine. Goalkeeper Lewis Batchford, who replaced a slightly injured Pullen in the first period, did well to get across his goal on 53 minutes to turn Bobby Scott’s free-kick around the post.
Within two minutes the O’s were back in the contest through Chris Benjamin, who tucked home from close proximity. Orient then enhanced their evening still further in the 63rd minute when they claimed a leveller as skipper Michael Richardson took advantage of some helpful defending to fire a loose ball high past Batchford from an acute angle.
Both sides had opportunities to steal the game towards the end. Simon Thomas’ towering header back towards the far post for City was pawed out by substitute ‘keeper Yilmaz Askoy and Bradley Stopher’s glancing nod from a corner sailed over. For the visitors, Loboit sent a tempting ball squirming across the goalmouth and out the other side while Stephen Reed ended the game in injury time by firing a Clarets free-kick off-target.
Of the players, Pennyfather said: “It was an opportunity to see if they fit within what I’m after from the team, and my framework. It was a good workout for us and it’s answered some questions for me, though I wouldn’t say it’s answered them all. After this week I’ll start to settle the squad down with more familiar faces coming back. With four games left to go to the start of the season I don’t envisage having too many more trialists coming in.”
Blue Square Bet South side Havant & Waterlooville stunned Doncaster Rovers in the Joma 2010 South West Challenge Cup match at Holsworthy.
Havant thrashed the npower Championship outfit 5-0!
They led 3-0 at half time with goals from Steve Ramsey, Sam Pearce and Muzzy Tiryaki, who fired a stunning free kick past veteran goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.
Pearce added his second after the break, with Paul Hinshelwood's penalty completing the surprise rout.
Havant, who meet Barnstaple Town on Thursday evening, are now favourites to progress to Saturday's semi final.
That is unlikely to concern Doncaster too much. Their manager, Sean O'Driscoll, was disappointed he was not allowed to make more than three official substitutions in Monday night`s 10-1 win over Barnstaple and was reluctant to play four games in a week.
Rushden & Diamonds made a solid start to their Joma Challenge Cup campaign with a 5-1 win over Toolstation Western Leaguers Ilfracombe Town.
Max York and Nabil Sherriff gave Diamonds a 2-0 lead inside 12 minutes at Marlborough Park.
Robbie Gough pulled one back for the hosts from the penalty spot before Sherriff, and a brace from substitute Sam Smith made the game safe in the second half.
It was Ilfracombe's second 5-1 defeat of the competition and like Monday's match against Shrewsbury Town, they battled well after a slow start.
Diamonds now take on Shrewsbury at Torrington on Thursday to decide who wins group three.
Zamaretto League Division One South & West side Bideford put up an excellent fight against League Two Accrington Stanley before losing 5-2 in the Joma Cup.
After Monday`s 7-1 hammering against Kilmarnock, the Robins were determined not to suffer a similar fate against Stanley.
Sean Joyce's team stayed in contention as goals from Jamie Densham and Sean Downing meant they only trailed 3-2 midway through the second half.
But Stanley, unlucky not to take anything from the previous night's match against Blackpool, always had the edge at the Sports Ground.
Goals from Ray Putterill, Michael Dukes, Rory Boulding, Sean McConville and Andy Parkison meant the Lancashire club won the group one clash.
A crowd of 1,300 were at Priory Park to see Championship side Queens Park Rangers take on Carlsberg South West Peninsula League outfit Bodmin Town.
Neil Warnock's squad cruised to a 6-0 victory with goals from Hogan Ephram (2), Jamie Mackie, Andre Germen and Josh Parker but Darren Gilbert's side gave a good account of themselves.
Blue Square Bet North side Worcester City were beaten 2-1 at Zamaretto Premier hosts Cirencester Town.
Having fallen behind to a strike from former Hereford striker Marcus Palmer, City drew level from the penalty spot through Mark Danks after a hand-ball by striker Jody Bevan.
However, Brian Hughes’ men restored their lead 5 minutes before the interval with a goal from Tom Etheridge.
Blue Square Bet South side Dorchester Town shared a 3-3 draw with Championship outfit Crystal Palace.
The Magpies led 2-0 and 3-2 in the encounter thanks to strikes from Stuart Douglas, Kevin Hill and Nathan Walker. But it was their shape, fitness levels and willingness to work that really stood out against a strong Palace side that included Argentine keeper Julian Speroni and ex-Newcastle United ace Darren Ambrose.
Nathan Tyson gave visiting Nottingham Foret the lead at Field Mill against Blue Square Bet Premier side Mansfield Town when he rounded Alan Marriott and finished confidently.
It was 2-0 to Forest in the 27th minute when Dele Adebola slotted into the right-hand corner after Brendan Moloney's surge.
However, Mansfield hung in there and played some good stuff in the second period.
The Stags` reward came with 17 minutes to go when Ryan Williams converted a penalty after Niall O'Rafferty was brought down.
A youthful Rushden & Diamonds outfit just edged out impressive local Hereward Teamwear United Counties League Division One neighbours Rushden & Higham United by the odd goal in five.
The first 45 minutes saw the hosts coast into a 2-0 lead with goals from new signings Marvellous Entiwerrea and Joe Moriarty.
However, the full-timers came more into the game as the Lankies made changes.
Morgan Phillips pulled the first back and a brace from Dominic Brennan – the second a stunning 35-yard effort – secured victory.
Barnsley held on to win a seven-goal thriller against Blue Square Bet North side Ilkeston Town at the New Manor Ground.
Danny Fearnehough, Adam Hammill, Liam Dickinson and Alistair Taylor put Barnsley four goals to the good inside the opening 45 minutes.
Ilkeston hit back after the break and even missed a penalty - Laurie Wilson missing from the spot.
Paul Dempsey scored Ilkeston's first, a triallist got on the scoresheet and Gary Ricketts also scored infront of a crowd of 214.
Dean Saunders named the majority of his first team squad for Blue Square Bet Premier Wrexham`s first home friendly of the campaign against a young Liverpool side made up of reserve and academy players under the management of John McMahon.
Former Liverpool favourite Saunders will be relatively pleased to have shared a goalless draw.
Goals from Danny Wright after 37 minutes and a Adam Marriott penalty soon after the interval earned Blue Square Bet Premier side Cambridge United a 2-0 win at Ridgeons League Premier neighbours Mildenhall Town.
