WE’LL MEAT AGAIN

So another pre-season commences and it’s off to Quorn we go.  Liverpool came too soon, but hopefully a leisurely game beckoned against a team who this season open their leagues campaign against Nantwich Town.  Split teams this evening with part of the squad off to Alsager and another team under the guidance of Steve and Dario making their way to the quaint little village of Quorn, together with 30 or so hardy individuals preferring to take the 90 minute or so journey to assess the state of our team prior to the march towards the Championship – pre-season optimism perhaps???  A lovely little ground with the pitch in immaculate condition, perfect for our style of play.

Starting eleven for tonight’s game were

GK                            Tommo

Full Backs                Jamo Faal Thomas & Ryan Lynch

Centre Halves Danny O Donnell & Chris Mcready (skipper on the night)

Midfield                   Ben Rix, Byron Moore, Junior Brown, Mark Carrington

Strikers                     Nicky Maynard & Tom Pope

A number of youngsters supplemented the bench including a mystery trialist from Nigeria and a keeper from America.

A lovely summers evening (at last) greeted our arrival at the ground and it was nice that Steve Holland came over and had a chat with us.  Steve even gave us a few titbits of news in that Patrick Suffo (ex striker from Coventry / Sheffield United) was coming in for a few days together with another young lad from Coventry recommended by Adrian Heath.  SH seemed to think the prospect of Constantine coming to us was fading unless Leeds did not take up the option of signing him, though we would be very much interested in him should the move to Leeds fall through.  Someone raised the situation of our keepers and Steve basically said that the position was up for grabs.  Tommo would play here, Owain at Alsager and Ben at Forrest Green next week.  Looking at other keepers was certainly not out of the question.

Anyway on to the game.  As news filtered through that the other 11 had taken an early lead at Alsager so did we at Quorn.  A deep cross from Lynch was met on the volley by Byron Moore to send the ball into the far right hand corner.  Quorn did put pressure on our defence, with Tommo being called upon to make a couple of decent saves, but as much as Quorn huffed and puffed, they failed to put any sustained pressure on us and it was no surprise when Nicky Maynard was put through one on one with their keeper and calmly stroked the ball home.  Two nil was quickly followed by 3 – 0 as Junior Brown slotted one home. 

Of the trialists looking to impress Thomas was substituted at half time probably intimating that he had failed to win himself a contract.  Lynch continued in his role at left back with a number of youngsters (together with the Nigerian trialist – Ernest something or other) coming on.  We had been warned about Ernest before the start of the second half in that we may be in danger of getting hit by the ball as some of his clearances did leave a lot to be desired and that his challenges may be a little bit meaty, which are definitely banned at Quorn. 

In fact one of Ernest’s cross field passes / clearances / general hoofs, created the fourth goal as it found one of the young subs who crossed for Junior Brown to stoop and nod in his second of the game. Ernest continued to catch the eye by scything down one of their players and his piece de resistance came when he cleared the ball from our right by-line to go all the way across the goal and out for a corner on the left hand side.  He lasted 25 minutes before being substituted and I would assume never to be seen again.

The centre half pairing of D O’ D and Macca worked well with SH urging his defence to keep a clean sheet.  After a number of opportunities, Mark Carrington eventually found the back of the net to make the score 5 – 0, which resulted in a host of further substitutions from both sides and the game gradually petering out.  At this stage some of the Alex fans decided to practice their bowling action in readiness for the Crewe ASi annual cricket tournament.  Looking at them perhaps they would have better utilised their time by going the bar and practicing carrying the drinks.

Anyway the scoreline finished 5-0 with no apparent serious injuries, a clean sheet and a nice little work out.  General thoughts on tonight’s players

Tommo      -        Did himself no harm, dealing admirably with anything that came his

way.  However there is always that nagging doubt that he is not tall enough.

Thomas      -        Only played 45 minutes and did seem as though he hadn’t earnt a

contract

Lynch         -        Adequate full back but maybe lacked that sparkle to push him forward. 

Spotted talking to Dario after the game, appearing as though he was

being told that it was a no.  Looks like our search for defensive cover continues.

O’Donnell -        Returned to the shaven head look once again, resembling a bigger

version of Kenny Lunt. Won most things in the air and looked assured on the deck.

Mcready     -        Linked up well with Danny and this could possibly be the first choice

pairing for the season ahead.  Captain on the night becoming more and more vocal as the game wore on.  Showed his versatility by moving into midfield for the last 10 minutes.

Brown        –       Full of tricks with Dario consistently urging him to work hard.  Took his

goals well though fluffed his opportunity late on to secure a hat trick as

he screwed a reasonable chance wide of the mark.

Moore        –      Most were impressed in his cameo role against Liverpool, and once

again looked a good prospect.  Took his goal well and was involved in many of the bright moments of the game.

Carrington –       Seems to be taking up the Sorvel mantle by being very steady, working

hard box to box.  Needs to be a bit more assured in front of goal, but a definite candidate for the first squad of 16.

Rix             –       Ben was the big disappointment on the night, failing to impose himself.

Hopefully this will be due to him being unfit for Liverpool and this was his first game of the pre-season.

Maynard     –       Played the first half and did very little apart from scoring his goal. 

Seemed to pick up a little knock mid way through the first half, and we all know he is capable of much more.

Pope           –       Played the full 90 minutes and won his fair share of flick ons and

headers from corners making the Quorn keeper pull out a couple of fine saves (then again the Pope should be good with crosses).  Is he capable of stepping into Luke Varney’s boots? On this showing - No

Subs           -        Too numerous to mention. Most of them were young and inexperienced

and hopefully this experience will assist in their development.

We never got to see the American keeper though he certainly looks the part – very tall and well built. Perhaps he may be given a run out in another game?

So once again Quorn treated us extremely well, and after the game we all retired to the bar to be greeted by a sumptuous buffet (for the players)  As professional sports players they could obviously not finish it off by themselves and with a tremendous burst of speed Scott led the dash to the buffet.  Some of our coachload even acquired their own Butty Box for the journey home.  

Always nice to come here, made really welcome and already looking forward to next year.

 Former  Quorn and Alex and current Charlton Star

Luke Varney