Reds Complete Perfect Pre-Season

Squad: Lynch, Elliott, Simpson, Wicks, Bauldry, Sorce, Cochrane, Hayden, Holbrook, Miles, Smith, Mortellaro. L, Skinner, Stevens, Gibbins

Not much can be read into pre-season results, but we have enjoyed a positive prelude to the 14/15 season.

Our final friendly was against Hersham, who were physical and worked hard, but eventually our quality told.

We struggled to find our rhythm in the first half, but had a good goal ruled out by the flag happy linesman.

The opener came after around 25 minutes as Oli Cochrane played a fine pass over the defence for Joey Stevens and his dangerous low cross was bundled into his own net by a Hersham defender with Tom on hand looking to finish off.

In the second half we upped the tempo and quickly made it 2-0 as a short corner found Silvio Sorce at the back post and he laid off to the edge of the box where Luca dispatched a well controlled strike past the keeper and defenders on the line.

Our 3rd goal came from a wonderful exchange of passes between Skinner and Tom, before the latter coolly set up the former who coolly sidefooted past the keeper.

We made it 4 with a move started by Oli that eventually found Luca down the right and his low cross evaded everyone, but Skinner arrived at the back post and finished brilliantly from a tight angle, finding the roof of the net to notch his 2nd goal on club debut.

If we had been a bit more ruthless with our final pass, control and finishing around their area we could have netted several more goals, but a relatively easy win with a clean sheet was a nice way to prepare for our first League game.

Thanks to those who ran the line and to those who came to support.