POMPEY were too slick for Bognor as a huge crowd of around 2,000 flocked to Nyewood Lane for the sidesâ annual pre-season friendly - but both teams will have found it a useful workout in conditions more suited to cricket. Goals by Ryan Taylor, Miles Storey, Danny Hollands, Bradley Tarbuck, Andy Barcham and Jed Wallace gave the Blues a comfortable win against one of manager Andy Awfordâs former clubs. One of the Pompey subs brought on for the second half, was 16 year old Academy keeper Alex Bass. For Bognor, ex Pompey youth players Lewis Horsburgh and Harry Medway played against their old club. Rocks: Winterton, Hinshelwood, Crane, Tuck, Robson, Medway, Wheeler, Oatway, Parsons, Whyte, Johnson. Subs: Horsburgh, Pearce, Sackman, Hayes, Strong, van Driel, Morey. Pompey: Jones, Close, Butler, Dunne, Chorley, Hollands, Storey, Ertl, Taylor, Westcarr, Holmes. Subs: Maloney, Bass, Tarbuck, Wynter, Webster, Devera, Shorey, Awford, Atangana, Bird, Wallace, Agyemang, Barcham.
Sounds as though it was a halfway decent game and useful for fitness purposes. H&W and Bognor gave our lot an easy start as will Ebbsfleet and Thurrock. Bournemouth and Chalton will be a bit more testing and we might get an idea of how good/poor the players actually are.
Tonight we won 2-0 at Thurrock, with both goals in the first half from Craig Westcarr. Host of changes during the match, with 16 year old Academy keeper Alex Bass on in the second half for Paul Jones. Ryan Bird hit the crossbar, and Andy Barcham rounded the keeper and scored, only to be given offside.
A 3-0 defeat today at Ebbsfleet, rather surprisingly. Two of the goals from Charlie Sheringham - son of Teddy - who once was on trial at Fratton Park.
The whole purpose of pre-season is to have moments like this. It allows the manager to examine the strenghts and weaknesses of the squad in matches that dont matter so he can work on the weaknesses and enter the new season better off.
