This was the Reserves first friendly of the season. Armed with a squad of 21 players, a side for each half was picked to give all the players at least 45 minutes.
1st half
Danny Graves, Adam Hosker, Jim Hewson {Capt.}, Liam Howe, James Collins, Jamie Griffin, Jack Whieldon, Dan Kilbourne, Jordan Rook, Mick Smith & Rob Mulonga
The Reserves had to play into a strong wind and this had them on the back foot early doors. Mickleover striker and former Blues first team player Ben Roffey, aided by a bit of hesitant defending, went close to opening the scoring on 2 occasions. He first fired just over the bar from 20 yards and was then denied by the ever alert Danny Graves in the Blue’s goal.
Mid way through the half the Reserves picked up the pace and started passing the ball through the midfield. Last seasons under 16’s Jamie Griffin and Jordan Rook began to take the eye and with Jack Whieldon and Dan Kilbourne the midfield started to create chances .First Mick Smith forced the Mickleover keeper into a smart save and then the speedy Rob Mulonga outpaced the home side’s defence before crashing his effort against the bar.
Blues should have opened the scoring when they were awarded a penalty kick for deliberate handball. Unfortunately Smith’s penalty failed to hit the target
Half-time 0 v 0
2nd half
Ashley Whelehan, Geoffrey Oshinyemi, Matt Hallam {Capt.}, Danny Chambers, Liam Howe, Colin Dewhurst, Martin Roome, Dan Pratt, Tom Booth &Ben Wallace.
With the wind at their backs and with 10 fresh players, the reserves totally dominated the 2nd half. The Long Eaton defence were rarely troubled and easily coped with any semblance of a Mickleover attack. Martin Roome, Dan Pratt and the outstanding Colin Dewhurst were able to provide plenty of service to the strike partnership of Tom Booth and Ben Wallace, who were too hot for the home sides defence
Twice the impressive Wallace failed to convert chances when he only had the keeper to beat.
The deadlock was finally broken when Long Eaton were awarded a free-kick 35 yards out. Up stepped Booth, he smash the ball and it crashed off the under side of the bar before bouncing into the roof of the net.
Another free-kick, awarded just inside the Mickleover half, brought the Blues their 2nd of the match. This time Danny Chambers picked out Wallace, who headed powerfully past the home team’s keeper.
Wallace was causing all kinds of mayhem for the Mickleover defenders, but could not convert any more of his umpteen chances. New boy Dan Pratt completed the scoring, when he rose majestically to head a Booth corner into the net to make it 3.
This was a good work out for the Reserves and a chance to look at some new players.
The wind was a problem early on, but once we got the first goal it became quite comfortable.
We do have a lot of players to choose from. 21 today, another 10 or so either injured, holiday or working, plus anything that we may get from the first team. All the players are aware that there is a lot of competition for places, so they will have to train hard and give everything from here on in just to command a place in the Reserve’s squad!
Match report by manager Leigh Booth
