Tuesday 31st July - pre-season friendly at Plains Road - kick off 7:45pm
Look forward to our trips to see the Miners - this was our first view of their new improved squad, and they gave their Midland Football Alliance visitors a decent workout.
Tony Hay gave me a sneak preview of their new programme cover - last season they picked up the EMCL best programme award, but although it was a fair effort, to be honest there were a few better. I suppose that without knowing the actual criteria for winning the award, I shouldn't comment, but if I were Blackwell's programme editor, I reckon would have been a bit miffed.....
We weren't too sure of many of the GMW squad, but their starting eleven was detailed by Mr. Hay.
Walker, Mazarno, Hore, Bradley, Hall, Gee, Whitt, Wells K, Stanley, Brookes, Simms. Watkinson, Wells B, Heath, Pass were among the Welfare subs.
Dunkirk had a few known faces, but for the most part we resorted to using their numbers as reference. The first half belonged to the visitors - they absolutely battered the Welfare goal, and but for three of four "worldies" from Lance Walker, Dunkirk could have been out of sight at the break. A stonewall penalty when Walker clearly impeded a Dunkirk striker was waved away by Referee Nigel Prost - although on form, Walker would probably have saved it! H-T 0-0.
Whatever the Gedling players had in their drinks during the break, I want a lorry load please! They were 3-0 up within 12 minutes of the restart.
The first was a wonder strike from Kieren Wells on 47. The young striker collected the ball right on the corner of the box, and controlled calmly before firing a 22 yard cracker past James Mountain. We've seen some great goals this pre-season - although Kev actually missed this one - he was otherwise indisposed.
The next goal was a treat. Sam Simms played a peach of a through ball to Ashley Whitt, and the former Radcliffe man took the ball in his stride and hammered it home. It was 3-0 seconds later, although whether the 40+ yard looper from Danny Gee was a genuine strike on goal only he knows - anyway the ball caught Mountain off his line and sailed into the net - they all count, so they say....
Dunkirk weren't giving up though, and on 69 when a Gedling attack broke down, the ball went all the way back up the pitch and Alex Haughton raced into the box and fired across Rhys Watkinson - the replacement keeper's first touch was to pick the ball out of the net!
With three to go, Jay Lee Hodgson was on hand to fire the loose ball into the net after Watkinson had failed to hold a firece drive, then right on 90 minutes, Dunkirk's no. 5 flew forward and hammered the ball across the box to the far stick where Jordan Alls was waiting to slide home. F-T 3-3 What a second half that was!!!!!!
Admission £4 ! Although value for money = 10/10
Attendance ( Fred Kirkbytown H/C ) 80
JayLee looking mean and moody!!!!
