First preseason friendly ahead of Cunliffe's first season in the Wrexham Sunday Premier Division
On a blisteringly hot Thursday evening the Cunliffe traveled up to Overton to face a Turf team that were eager to show the Cunliffe what they were made of.

Sam Hassall will be using the friendlies as an opportunity to bed in the new players as well as some new formations.

Debutant for the game were Jonathan Mapp in goal, Shaun Cartwright centre midfield, his brother Jordan Cartwright leading the line up top and Ben Price brother Liam Price a speedy winger.

First half started with a 4-3-3
GK - Jonathan Mapp
DF - Ashleigh Williams, Will Evans, Adam McLoughlin & Jason Edwards
MD - Shaun Cartwright, Jamie Grice & Michael Gilpin
FW - Matthew Williams, Jordan Cartwright & Tom Ducket

There were lots of chances in the first half with Matthew Williams, Jordan Cartwright and Tom Duckett forcing the keeper into some good saves. There were a lot of chance that went begging through some poor shooting, but the positives should be taken to the fact that the chances were being created and on another day we could have scored 10 in the first 45 minutes, but that will come. One piece of play should get a special mention which was a break from down the right by Ashleigh Williams and some neat inter play with Matthew Williams saw him slice through the Turf's defence leaving him one on one with the goalie and if not for the ball getting stuck under his feet and a fine save from their goalie we could have been looking at a contender for goal of the season in a preseason friendly.

HT Cunliffe 0 - Turf 1

With everyone promised a minimum of 45 minutes changes were made at half time along with a change in formation to 3-5-2

GK - Jonathan Mapp
DF - Jamie Grice, Jason Edwards & Adam McLoughlin
MF - Liam Price, Shaun Cartwright, Michael Gilpin, Gareth Williams & Matthew Williams
FW - Paolo Melacrinis & Jordan Cartwright

Change in formation certainly bolstered the midfield, but with the size of the Overton pitch the back 3 were often stretched.

All the Cunliffe goals came in second half and it was Paolo Melacrinis who was returning from a season long injury who bagged himself a perfect hat trick and a solid 45 minutes. Hopefully he can continue to work on his fitness and get back to the level he was playing at before his injury. The other two Cunliffe goals were cool finishes from two of our top performers last year, Matthew Williams with a left foot half volley into the bottom corner and Jason Edwards with an excellent finish whilst under pressure in the Turf box.

FT Cunliffe 5 - Turf 3

Overall lots of things to work on, but with more games and less cobwebs I feel that with the new additions to the squad we will be challenging hard week in week out in what is a very difficult Premier Division.