City:1 U's:1

No pre-season is complete without a trip to Milton Road, a stadium which for some reason has been judged unsuitable for the Blue Square South, meaning our neighbours will ply their trade in the Southern League next year. A bizarre decision to say the least when one considers that the likes of Stafford, Canvey, and Histon have been allowed to compete in the Blue Square Premier, but anyway.

This match had a much more proper feel about it than Saturday’s sleepy sojourn to Norfolk. Perhaps it was merely because there was some semblance of atmosphere, with both sets of fans in good voice, happy to direct abuse at our village dwelling chums.

It also helped that the Brabinator fielded what, give or take a centre half, is probably our strongest team, with Hatswell, Pitt, and Farrell coming into the starting line up for Hoyte, Convery, and Reed. Again it was apparent that United are going to try and be more Arsenal than Bolton this season, with Beesley and Parkinson in particular linking up well with some swift interchanges.

One such move saw Parky slalom into the area and have a shot blocked by a diving defender, while Hatswell and Matt Halliday saw headers comfortably saved by City’s new keeper Richard Willmott.

But somewhat against the run of play it was the hosts who took the lead through the finally tuned goalscoring machine that is Michael Gash. It looked as though Roberts was fouling Hatswell as he flicked the ball through to Gashy, who took one touch before hammering a half volley past Potter.

Beesley forced the ball in from close range for the equaliser after Halliday had headed the ball back into the goalmouth. The young defender put in another good-not-great performance, and one has to wonder whether we can do better in the centre back arena.

The same can be said of Ramon Calliste, who appeared in the second half and was far better than in Saturday’s game, showing some neat touches and going on one decent run which unfortunately ended with him slipping over and shooting wide. I’d like to see him given a run with the ‘first’ team rather than all the subs, but again I suspect we can do better.

The highlight of a mediocre second half was the introduction of an unknown trialist, subsequently identified as Dutch winger Filino Jardin. I prefer it when trialists are unexpected – it lets you imagine they are a young star wrongly discarded by Barcelona rather than some journeyman who couldn’t get a game at Bognor Regis.

By that I’m not saying that little Filino couldn’t get a game at Bognor Regis. In fact he was quite useful in patches, though I don’t really think we need another right winger with Parky, Bussens and Willmott in the squad. Robbie had the best chance of the second half, with a header from a Pitt cross that drew a good save from his namesake Richard.

So yeah, more good football, which was pleasing, and although we did only score one goal, I’m sure our clinical-ness in front of goal will improve between now and the start of the season. Maybe.

Man of the Match: Mark Beesley – Bees was all over the place in the first half, and showed his strikers instinct to get in where it could’ve hurt and poach the equaliser.

(very)Minor celebrity sighting of the Match: Wantaway P*sh striker and part-time Buster Rhymes impersonator Aaron Maclean was hanging around outside the main stand at half time. Checking up on his potential new employers perhaps?