Slough v Hartley Wintney (pre-season game)

[Reading Rebel]

Only just remembered that this game is another early ko at 1pm.

The last game where we have the chance to sharpen up our attack before the season starts next week.

[3spirit]

5 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

Only just remembered that this game is another early ko at 1pm.

The last game where we have the chance to sharpen up our attack before the season starts next week.

Look forward to seeing your Slough line up for our first league game against Dorking, RR.

This pre-season has been a rather odd one with the highs of Ryan Bird, Max Worsfold and Joe Grant's signing and then the lows of Mark Nisbet and Joe's injury and the absence of Josh Jackman. The no-show of Billy Clifford and non event trial of Matt Briggs and the cancellation of the Beaconsfield game hasn't lightened the mood but least the Hayes and Yeading win and the behind the scenes game with Chalvey Sports has kept our team ticking over and our team look like they will be ready come the start of the season. We're fortunate that we haven't undergone major rebuilding, in terms of player recruitment, so that should help when it comes to starting the league programme, after a rather quiet pre season in the way of games.

Glad the game kicks off at 1pm. Just hope it's not too rainy but glad it's not going to be boiling hot.

 

[GlenSTFC]

Most hoping there were no injuries or even niggles today? 

[3spirit]

'Unders' summed the game up well, on his after match interview with Adrian, I agreed with everything he said and I,too, thought Slough were ok but just aren't quite at it. We weren't terrible but we looked unsure in our decision making going forward. 

I thought we looked better in the second half than the first and we improved immeasurably when we had Matt Lench, Manny Williams and Dan Roberts on the pitch, as they linked up well. Scott Davies played some telling passes but got caught in possession but early days for him.

Simon Dunn played at left back, thought he worked hard enough but positionally got caught out a number of times and first half had trouble marking Nathan Smart,who kept getting into space and scored with a fine shot from the left but was unmarked. Didn't think Max Worsford gave Simon much protection on the left but understandable given neither have played together on the left before and Max is still feeling his way into our set up.

I think for the Dorking game I would favour Max to start at left back, as he is left footed and looks physically strong and play Matt Lench in front of him, we then have the option of Sean covering left back in the second half,to push Max forward. He may not want to play at left back but he has done so before and it's not like we want him there forever.

So far Ryan Bird is not getting much service and we haven't built much of an understanding between him and our other strikers, which is slightly worrying but I think  I would favour Ryan and Ben to start together against Dorking but have the pace of Francis Armatey to come on second half, if we haven't had much joy upfront next Saturday.

Hartley Wintney looked a decent enough outfit and seemed well organised, not the greatest of tests for our side but could easily have been worse. Least they were a sporting side and there were no real bad tackles in the game.