Our pre-season was a good work out for the boys as we played seven, won three, lost three, and drawn one. We scored 18 and conceded 13. Not bad going.

Brad Munn named a couple of changes to his side that lost 2-1 to Derby U21’s last time out.

Lewis King commanded a back line consisting of Player A, Owen Betts, Jayden Cotterill, and Gianluca Bucci.

Connor Pace, Tristan Thompson-Matthews, and Taylor began as a midfield three.

Garnett, Dexter Walters, and James Shaw were our front three.

Corey Gregory, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Jamie Hanson, Oscar Hugenholtz, Caleb Horsley, Coden Duncan, and Munn himself began on the bench.

The game started fast and, in our favour, as we opened the scoring within the first three minutes. Garnett was threaded through by Shaw, and he only had the goalkeeper to beat. He gave him the eyes and slotted it into the net.

The visitors responded quickly as they made the game level before the ten-minute mark. A ball over the top was brought down well by their forward, he cut in and hit it into the roof of the net leaving King no chance.

The rest of the half consisted of us keeping possession and breaking down the Khalsa back line, but we had no luck and went into the half time break level.

Davidson-Miller replaced Shaw at half time.

Just before the hour mark, Walters made a darting run into the box but was brought down by a Khalsa defender. Garnett stepped up to take the penalty and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way as he slotted it into the bottom left corner.

On fire, Garnett almost found his hat-trick a lot sooner as in the 65th minute, a smart move down the right flank saw Betts cross the ball into the box. It was a perfect cross, but Garnett could not get close enough to it.

However, he had his hat-trick as two minutes later, Garnett pulled his trademark goal. Walters started the play with some silky footwork, he played the ball to Garnett, and he did what he does best. He spun with the ball and struck it into the bottom left corner leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

Duncan replaced Thompson-Matthews before the visitors kicked off again.

Our two-goal lead was cut in half in the 71st minute as Khalsa found the back of the net.

Pace, Player A, and Walters were replaced by Gregory, Hugenholtz, and Horsley in the 84th minute.

After we had made our subs, King booted the ball down the pitch, Taylor nodded the ball in Garnett’s direction, and he stroked the ball into the bottom right corner.

Having scored four goals, Garnett was replaced by Munn in the 88th minute.

A minute later, Taylor got onto the score sheet. Duncan won the ball in midfield and ran towards their goal. He laid it off to Taylor, who then fancied his chances and thumped it past the goalkeeper.

With the final whistle sounding, our pre-season was over.

Our next match is against Corby Town at the Family Only Stadium on August 9.