In the last few days the Reserves have played two friendlies winning one and losing the other. Manager Jeff Sears has provided reports for both games
Thursday 12th August
BFC Reserves 3 May & Baker FC 4
Played at the Jo Richardson School, Castle Green
It has to be said that we started very poorly on a difficult astroturf surface, and a very strong May & Baker side, completely outplayed our inexperienced side for the opening 45 minutes. A combination of our poor play and our opponent’s slick movement and some high quality finishing caused us to concede at regular intervals throughout the first half. There were very few positives to take out of the half with no shots on target and only 1 corner to show for our efforts. At half-time we found ourselves 4-0 down.
A few tactical changes but basically a request for more effort in all aspects saw us transformed in the second half. Our play improved dramatically and we started to pose a few problems to our more experienced opponents. After 52 minutes an unmarked Nick HORNSBY got his second goal in as many games heading home a well delivered free-kick from Steve Rowles. We continued our improvement and eight minutes later debutant Frankie WILLIAMS latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from centre back Jason Kane, slotting home under the keeper. This really seemed to set alarm bells ringing in the home defence and, with our young players now dominating the game Frankie WILLIAMS got his second goal lifting another quality through ball over the stranded keeper and setting up a really tense last 20 minutes. Unfortunately despite lots of pressure we were unable to complete a magnificent comeback and May & Baker held out for a 4-3 win.
As desperate as we were in the first half, the second half performance really showed that the team possesses pride, heart and a will to improve, and are prepared to get stuck in and battle even when all looks lost.
Squad: Jimi-Dean Sheppard, Steve Rowles, Jason Kane, Paul Smith, Ricky Munday (Steve's son), Carl Walker, Joel Dicka, Sam Sheppard, Andy Thorpe, Nick Hornsby, Frankie Williams, Jovan Laronde.
Saturday 14 August 2010
Enfield 1893 FC Reserves 0 BFC Reserves 1
We took a very large and strong squad to this friendly against Enfield and our starting eleven included several first team squad players and for the first time this season we got off to a fast start dominating the early exchanges. Some excellent passing and movement caused our opponents some serious problems both wide and through the middle. After some excellent interplay after ten minutes between Matty Malton playing in an unaccustomed wide right position, Carl Walker and debutant Gary Strongman resulted in Matty MALTON being hauled down by an Enfield defender and getting up to coolly slot home the resulting penalty. For the rest of the half we continued to press forward but failed to get on the end of any more chances. Connor Halsy went on a mazy dribble through the heart of the Enfield defence and only a desperate last ditch tackle stopped him getting a shot away.
Wholesale changes took place at half-time meant our performance did suffer slightly as a result straight after the break until the new players found their feet and continued to create chances going forward. Jevon Riley made a good channel run to get on the end of a through ball cut inside the lunging full back and pulled the ball back across goal sadly just behind the on-rushing Matty West. Ten minutes later a similar move saw Matty smash a rasping drive against the Enfield bar. Despite continued pressure and more half chances no further goals were scored and we ran out deserved winners and really the 1-0 score line flattered our hosts. It was nice to get a little revenge for our first team's defeat on the opening day of the season. The encouraging signs across the whole afternoon were the strength in depth we now have in the squad, the excellent combination of experience and youthful enthusiasm, and the willingness of players to try different positions, and different systems.
Squad: Amish Patel, Dan Fowler, Connor Halsey, Dan Kokun, Paul Smith, Jason Kane, Steve Rowles, Peter Moore, Darryl Paskell, Matty Malton, Carl Walker, Ricky Munday, Sam Sheppard, Joel Adicka, Matty West, Joe Tungate, Gary Strongman, Nicky Hornsby, Frankie Williams, Jevon Riley.
At the time of writing the Reserves next game is to be confirmed
