Bingham Town FC stepped into the breach at short notice and travelled the short distance down the A52 to play a hastily organised friendly against higher league opposition in the form of Radcliffe Olympic FC.

Town were to lose 5-1 to a well drilled Olympic side who were in their fourth pre-season friendly. Despite the result there were clear positives for Town who fielded five new signings in the first half alone.

Off-season challenges

It’s been a difficult off-season for Town. The departure of the ‘old guard’ management team of Chris North and Michael Spencer has hit the club hard. Under the stewardship of the pair, who have a wealth of experience at higher levels, Town were transformed from lower league minnows to a team capable of beating ‘the big spenders’ of the NSL Premier Division. There is no doubt that the duo has left the club in a sound position, having cemented the side as a regular fixture in the NSL top flight.

Carl Smith, who enjoyed a relatively successful but trophy-less last season as Town’s reserve team manager has stepped into the void left by North and Spencer and is assisted by the capable pairing of Dave Ingham and Mark Boyce.

Speaking before the game the new manager said “I’m confident that the team will do well this season, we’ve a few additions that will add a new dynamic”.

The game

Town’s first friendly of the season was an opportunity for the new manager to showcase his different approach and Smith set his stall out early, starting five new signings and playing three at the back.
There was also a new Captain in the absence of the ever dependable Andy Nicholson. Chris Tucker, in his first appearance for the club, took up the armband and lost no time in taking charge of Town’s defences.

Both sides started the game nervously with little to separate the two in the first 10 minutes. It was Radcliffe however who took the lead on 13 minutes after Town gave away a free kick 20 yards from goal. The resulting weak free-kick evaded both the wall and the dive of the former reserve team keeper Tom Green and settled in the bottom right hand corner of the goal.

By the 25th minute Radcliffe had grown into a controlling position. There were signs of some good initial play from Town out to the flanks, but understandably the players’ unfamiliarity with each other was showing and Town lacked the quality in the final third to really trouble Radcliffe’s defence.

Radcliffe’s second came in the 28th minute through some tidy passing down the left wing. A quick cross into Town’s six yard area saw a glancing header evade Town’s keeper. Radcliffe’s third goal followed shortly after in the 35th minute. Again, Town were undone down the left wing and another quick cross was quickly dispatched low into the net.

Within seven minutes, Radcliffe extended their lead even further from yet another free-kick 25 yards from goal. The resultant strike was a magnificent curling effort which sailed past Town’s static keeper and ended up in the top left corner of the goal.
Floodgates

At this point, the travelling fans from Bingham could be forgiven for thinking that the floodgates had opened. However, with one minute left to the half time whistle, Town was offered a glimmer of hope by new signing Harry Simpson. Seeing the home team’s keeper off his line, the number eight hit a sublime effort from 25 yards which sailed over the top of the stranded keeper and into the top right of the net.

Half-time, Radcliffe Olympic FC 4 – 1 Bingham Town FC

Town made a further six changes for the start of the second half which again featured some new faces to the team.

The second half quickly saw Radcliffe re-establish their dominancy and their quality in depth began to shine through with some neat link up play between the defence and midfield whilst making good use of the their attacking wide players. However, Town’s defence, under the leadership of Tucker grew in confidence and Radcliffe struggled to find the final quality needed to deliver more goals immediately.

The young Callum Bramwell, who did not feature significantly in the team last season, was given plenty of game time by the new manager. It was evident by his impressive defensive performance that he was repaying Smith’s confidence in him and demonstrating that he is capable of maturing into an outstanding player for Town this season.

At the mid-point of the second half, Town enjoyed a rare spell of possession and were unlucky not to get a second after Radcliffe’s ‘shaky’ substitute keeper made a series of errors and was lucky to escape further punishment.

Normal service was resumed shortly after with Radcliffe continuing to dominate the game with their fifth goal being netted in the 70th minute, again through some tight link up play. Cutting inside into the 18 yard box a neat strike was passed through the debutant keepers legs and dispatched into the back of the net.

Radcliffe weren’t finished at five and they continued to press for their sixth of the game which saw them gain a penalty following a foul in the 89th minute. Step up debutant keeper Elliot Cooke, who had already made some decent saves since coming on for the second half. The penalty was struck firmly but Cooke managed to get a strong hand to the ball, steering it away and out of the danger area!

Full-time, Radcliffe Olympic FC 5 – 1 Bingham Town FC

Following the game Town’s rookie manager said “it was a tough game but I felt we improved in areas as the game went on”.

On the subject of the players performance Smith said “I am pleased with the performance of the new players in particular and we also have a number of key players yet to return to the team”.

Post-match analysis from the ‘Shed End’

Playing Radcliffe in Town’s first pre-season friendly was always going to be a challenge as this was a hastily arranged fixture with little time to fully prepare for.
Friendlies are there as an opportunity to form a team and that is certainly what the new management team and players did. It has been a difficult off-season for Town however it is evident that there is real passion and enthusiasm to ensure that the club continues to perform in the NSL.

It was great to see an abundance of new faces and it is clear that the new signings are going to be a really integral part of the club this season and will offer us a new dynamic in all positions.

There were many of the usual ‘Shed Enders’ at the game and all remarked that despite the headline score there were many positives that could be drawn from the game.

It will take some time for rookie manager Smith to find his starting 11, however it’s evident that competition for places this season will be high with the mixture of new signings, returning ‘old boys’ and core members from last years’ campaign.