A round-up of Saturday`s pre-season friendly games involving Football Conference clubs.
Blue Square Bet Premier side Tamworth entertained a virtually full-strength Aberdeen outfit at The Lamb on Saturday and came out with a very creditable 1-1 draw.
Aberdeen kicked off and with less than 2 minutes gone on the clock Josh Magennis fired home from 6 yards out when the Lambs defence failed to clear a low ball in from the right.
The equaliser came 8 minutes into the second half when Kyle Perry headed powerfully home the equaliser at the far post following a corner.
Blue Square Bet North Hinckley United`s new-look side won 3-0 at Evo-Stik League Division One South neighbours Quorn.
The game did little to enthuse the small crowd, but the Knitters` fans in the ground did see Gary King, Jack Roberts and James Mace all find the back of the net.
Blue Square Bet South side Havant & Waterlooville will play in the Joma 2010 South West Challenge Cup final, despite losing in Saturday`s semi final at Elmore.
Goals from Lewis Neal and Tom Bradshaw gave Shrewsbury Town a 2-1 win.
But it is the Hawks who will meet Blackpool in Sunday`s final at the Sports Ground in Bideford.
Shrewsbury manager Graham Turner withdrew his team from the tournament immediately after the final whistle.
A lengthening injury list meant they were unable to commit to two games in two days as they prepare for the npower League Two season.
For Havant Sunday`s match will be their fourth in five days. But they would, in any case, have been worthy winners of a semi final watched by a crowd of around 150.
Blue Square Bet South ide Ebbslfeet United went down to a narrow 2-1 defeat to League Two neighbours Gillingham at Stonebridge Road.
The Gills went ahead around the quarter-hour mark, Chris Palmer striking a marvellous effort from 30 yards that went in off the bar and goalkeeper Preston Edwards.
Fleet equalised on 54 minutes when former Gill Clint Easton worked well down the left and fellow new boy Calum Willock was on hand to fire home from six yards.
But despite the Fleet making most of the running for large parts of the second half, Gills showed their superior class on 78 minutes when Palmer's kick was headed on by Bentley into the path of Stefan Payne who was able to nod home from close in.
Ebbsfleet`s new league rivals Maidenhead United beat Zamaretto Premier promotees Windsor & Eton 4-1 at Windsor Boys School.
The Magpies` goalscorers were Alec Wall, Ashley Nicholls and Kieron Knight with a brace.
Returning midfielder Kyle Nix (pictured) rescued a deserved draw for Blue Square Bet Premier side Mansfield Town against League Two visitors Tranmere Rovers after they had fallen behind to a first half strike from Ian Thomas-Moore.
The 24-year old, who returned to the Stags' ranks after a trial with Dutch side Sparta Rotterdam, smashed home a long-range drive to level the game in the closing minutes.
Blue Square Bet North side Ilkeston Town travelled to ambitious Zamaretto Premier Brackley Town and won 4-0.
The Robins` goals came from Chukki Eribenne, Jason Lee, Josh Burge and Ryan Clarke.
Chelmsford City boss Glenn Pennyfather has claimed this is decision time for him and his staff as they begin to establish which players will remain for the upcoming campaign following a further pre-season friendly showing against Bradford City’s full League Two-strength squad, the Head Coach saying: “Competition for places is good.”
Three first-half goals from Gareth Evans, twice, and Tom Adeyemi decided the contest but for Pennyfather it was an opportunity to pick a more recognised line-up as he filters out the individuals he wants to keep. He said: “I’m more specific on the players I’m looking for now as I’ve had a look at a number of triallists in different areas but I think it’s coming to that stage now where I want to settle things down, not only on matchdays but also training nights. We’ve had up to 25 or 26 training and it’s just too many.”
Plus, with skipper Dave Rainford likely to join the squad again next weekend, Pennyfather is looking forward to working closely on the specifics with more realistic squad numbers: “We need to start fine-tuning things and working on our patterns of play and set plays. I’ve got to make decisions on a number of people. Competition for places is good for the players we’ve already signed and I’m hoping to add one or two more.”
Aside from Alex Rhodes, a left-winger with experience of the League at Brentford, every other player in the starting line-up had featured before but they conceded an early 11th-minute goal from the spot. Young left-back Josh Brown was adjudged to have brought down Adeyemi on his way into the area and, from the resulting penalty, Evans rapped the ball with power into the bottom corner, leaving ‘keeper James Pullen with no chance.
Evans was clearly hungry for more and his appetite was appeased somewhat with another on 25 minutes. A deep ball was floated to the far post where he watched it carefully then executed a fantastic acrobatic, volleyed strike into the back of the net from close range. At the other end, Matthew Lock tried his luck from distance though when the Bantams added a third ten minutes before the break the scoreline began to look a little harsh.
This time Adeyemi raced down the right wing again as he shrugged aside the challenge of his marker and he fashioned himself a sight of goal before clipping wide of the advancing Pullen into the top corner. “The goals we conceded were all from mistakes and we’ve said that to the players – the best players make the most right decisions,” Pennyfather recalled. “It’s important that you’re in good habits and that you eradicate mistakes, which we didn’t do three times and it ended up in the back of our net three times.”
After the interval the Clarets contained Bradford much better and the only three efforts of note they forged themselves. Stephen Reed hit a volley wide early in the period, Simon Thomas whistled over from distance towards the end then striking prospect Tyrone Scarlett found his path blocked with his attempted shot towards goal at the death.
Seven replacements got varying spells on the pitch after half-time and Pennyfather added: “In the first 20 minutes I thought we started really well, passed the ball well and created a number of half-opportunities but didn’t get any end product from it. James Pullen hasn’t had to make a save today but, in fairness, we didn’t trouble their ‘keeper too much either. It was a lot of huff and puff and there was a lot of midfield play and passing.”
