|
Tuesday 15 July 2003 - Twerton Park - kick off 7.45pm Friendly 
|
| half-time: 2-0 | result: W3-1 | attendance: n/a |
| team: | Bryant, Rollo, Shore, Coupe (Howarth 45), Trought (Dixon 83), Ford (Harvey 45), Milton (Spring 79), Plummer (Bennett 45), Eaton (c) (Tweddle 45), Salter (Cleverley 45), Williams (Bridges 45). subs not used: none |
| man of the match: | Mark Bryant |
| scorers: | Salter (27), Eaton (29), Shore (69) |
| bookings: | none |
| officials: | T Page (Frome), G Davey (Bath), V Cannella (High Littleton) |
| league position: n/a | form: -----W | next match: Torquay (H) |
City's pre-season program began with a relatively gentle encounter with last seasons Western League runners-up Brislington at a warm and humid Twerton Park. The game saw City field 19 different players including recent new signing striker Mark Salter and former Sheffield United and Oxford United star Bobby Ford. As promised at the end of last season City lined-up in 4-4-2 formation, although with no full-backs amongst the various on trial players it was the more familiar faces of Jim Rollo and Drew Shore who occupied the right and left back spots respectively.
The opening exchanges were understandably largely uneventful although City did produce a couple of encouraging neat moves. During this period the most noticeable newcomer was ex-Bristol Rovers winger Dwayne Plummer, as his direct and strong running caused the visitors problems. Despite seeing most of the possession City did have two close escapes before twenty minutes had passed. They both stemmed from casual defending by Mike Trought as first a low shot by Claridge came back off the post and then the same player brought a smart stop out of Mark Bryant. The opening goal arrived after 27 minutes. Last seasons player of the year Andy Williams was the creator as his low cross was turned home from close range by Salter. Just another two minutes passed when City doubled their lead. This time it was Shore whose left wing cross picked out a black and white clad forward – Eaton volleying into the roof of the net. Twice more before the half time break Bryant was called into action to help City maintain their 2-0 advantage at the interval.
Numerous changes at half time from both sides (Brislington appeared to swap their whole team plus kit!) saw the arrival of former Cheltenham Town defender Adam Howarth. Up front Steve Tweddle and Dan Cleverley replaced Eaton and Salter but they failed to join their predecessors on the scoresheet. The most likely source of a third goal seemed to be from Shore’s ventures up field as twice he had the time and space to fire in a shot but failed to find the target. However, on 69 minutes he finally got his range and with the help of a slight deflection found the right hand corner of the net. The remainder of the game was largely forgettable and only a woeful back pass by Shore with five minutes left helped Brislington grab a consolation goal, as Bryant was finally beaten from 15 yards.