Yesterday.

[blueblood]

Overall i came away from yesterdays game more than happy with the teams performance.

Firstly it was great to be back in the ground watching live football with a great crowd for a friendly.(704 i believe, not the 350 if you are lucky predicted by the pessimists.)

It was a shame some of the scum that attaches itself to the great club that milwall is had to turn up and try to start. One even trying to nick the french bread out of the Kitchen. I believe 12 were kicked out for foul and abusive behaviour, plus 15 were thrown out of dreamland and did not make the match.

I was very pleased with the teams performance after only 3 training sessions. I was particularly impressed with James Donovan who seems to have slimmed down and showed a hunger.

As the first half went on we played some good one touch stuff and held up the ball for periods, something that we have lacked over the last few seasons.

I was very impressed with the Trialist keeper. he is certainly worth another look.

It was also nice to see the young local guys given a run out. Danny whisker looked good as did young Robinson. I have been a fan of Arron's since he was here last, i have picked him up in my cab as well and have some back ground into his stay at the Rams(there loss). Nice to see him home again.

I think we also felt the benefit of the youngsters in the squad, in the gate figures

I hope the knock Greg Oates took wasn't to bad. JD also had boot marks at the top /inside of his leg.

Overall yesterday was all we could have wished for, a good day out for one and all i hope.

[seasidesteve]

im not a pessimest im a realist mate and you are an arrogant ---- it was nice to see the new terrace as well(see i can be nasty too)

[Boney Crisp]

I was very impressed with Robinsons performance down that left hand side and if he plays against Fisher and plays well i think we should go about signing him.

[blueblood]

put in the missing word ss.

[Cookie]

Not so sure about Robinson.Have seen him play before & seen him for a very short while on Saturday.Did well enough but not sure if he's the class we are looking for.Time will tell I suppose.

[blueblood]

Wasn't it nice to see local boys in a gaaaaate shirt. Hopfully we will see more in the future. Must have been a dream to be in the same side as Jimmy Jackson and co.

[Gate Watcher]

Robinson worth another look but I'd be very careful about offering a contract. It would be good to see him again in a friendly to get a better idea but Jackson needs the match practice too.

[seasidesteve]

chap

[michael]

Did'nt see them sat., but you do have to be very careful with signing inexperienced players,as they can look good in a pre-season stroll in the sunshine,but wait until its a rainy November night,you are one nil down;and you are plastered in mud-thats when you need the experienced midfield battlers that RT seems to have assembled .

[Cookie]

Report from Millwwall on Saturdays game.

 

Honours even

 

Margate FC (1)1 Millwall X1 (1) 1

 

On Saturday a Millwall X1, with a particularly youthful appearance, including at least half a dozen 16-year-olds, travelled,to Margate FC for their first pre-season friendly.

The Margate line-up included old boys James Donovan and Danny Hockton with former Millwall youth coach Mike Flanagan on the bench in his capacity as assistant manager of the Kent club.

The game got off to a bright start with The Lions surviving a scare

in the 5th minute when Margate's James Pinnock's headed against the bar from a corner.

However within minutes of this, a quick break upfield culminated with the ball falling into the path of midfielder Will Hendry on the edge of the Margate area, and he fired home a well directed rising shot into the corner of the net.

From then on a series of Millwall attacks failed to produce a second goal. In the 14th minute Ross Gaynor's cross from the left fell favourably for Ali Fuseini on the edge of the box, but his drive flew high over the bar. Goalkeeper Scott Chalmer-Stevens was then instrumental in

denying Greg Palmer following a quick free-kick into the striker's path.

Midfielder Michael Phillips headed a good chance wide following Gaynor's inswinging corner from the right. Time and again chances were created by the visitors and it looked as though they had scored again following one of the best moves of the match so far, as Hendry slotted home in the 38th minute following good play by both Palmer and Kevin Braniff. Unfortunately, an offside decision by the assistant referee cancelled out the strike.

Pressure by the home side in the latter period of the first half saw Jack

Obersteller and Gaynor combine to break up a dangerous attack from Margate's Abbott and McKimm. And minutes later it fell to central defender Michael McLeary to make a vital interception to deny Pinnock.

The Margate equaliser in the 40th minute was an unstoppable diving header by McKimm flashed into the back of the net following a low cross into the area. The final action of the first period saw an inviting Hendry lob into the Margate area missed by both Fuseini and Palmer. Palmer then went close with a low drive which flashed inches the wrong side of the Margate post, and then the same player brought a super save from the home keeper with a diving header.

Substitute striker Gary Noel entered the fray in the 55th minute, and with virtually his first touch of the ball picked his way past three tackles en route into the home penalty area, but his final effort on goal was stifled by a defensive challenge. In the next Lions' attack Fuseini found himself

well placed for a strike on goal when he was picked out by a measured

pass from Braniff. Unfortunately he hurried his shot and drove wide.

A number of subsitutions caused the game to become disjointed after that. In the 70th minute goalscorer McKimm went down very easily at the feet of central defender Ben Payne, in an attempt to win a penalty kick. And substitute keeper Tommy Crowther excelled with a stunning save as he turned Hockton's glancing header around the post. At the other end a penetrative run on the right by Joe O'Rourke deserved better and some clever play by midfielder Michael Noone on the left almost put striker Sam Higgins in on goal.

There was further action at both ends before the final whistle but neither side was able to produce a winner.

 

Margate FC

Chalmer-Stevens, Oates, Standen, Donovan, Trott, Abbott, McKimm, Gradley,

Pinnock, Hockton, Jackson.

Subs. Protheroe, Yiga, Sesay, Hallett, Whisker, Robinson, Smith.

 

Millwall X1

Brooks (Crowther), Callaghan, Obersteller (Hopkins), Hendry, Payne,

McLeary (Jeffreys), Fuseini (O'Rourke), Michael Phillips (D.Phillips), Palmer

(Noel), Braniff, (Higgins), Gaynor (Noone)