Mens 1 vs Luton Town 1

Our second preseason game in five days saw us take on Luton - a team who narrowly missed out on promotion last season plus appeared to have recruited well over the summer... definitely we thought a step up in challenge for this game.

Luton were on top in the first half as the game started at a high intensity and our defence was called upon. We welcomed back Charlie Moxham, trying out in midfield after gallavanting around upfront last season - joining Captain Dan and Rob Walker in the 3.

Dom told us at half time that Luton were deploying a funnel press, which I thought is what you poured apples into for squeezing in the cider making process but actually it's apparently when you overload the poor bloke in the middle of the pitch and leave him few options to turn and pass.

The only real thing of note in the first half was Andy King's triumphant return to goal, making a smart stick-save diving to his right to deflect a drag flicked short corner, and also charging outside of the D when Luton made a cross ball on the break and our goalkeeping hero remembered to not use his feet to push the ball away to safety.

Also Rob committed a horrible stick tackle, his shout of "stick block" didn't do much in the eyes of the Rusty (thanks for umpiring) and he received the first yellow of the season, it might not count towards league stats but Henry will put it in the spreadsheet. Talking of Henry, it wasn't his thumb he dislocated when not-playing on Saturday but his pinky, he's on the mend and hopeful of playing on Saturday (clearly he attended the Tom Bunbury school of coping with injuries).

Durbs was doing alright, he had filled up the water bottles well but forgot his contact lenses, so if you factor in that he could barely see the opposition, let alone the ball he was playing bloody well.

Half Time 0 - 0, yawn, yes dear reader I know it is more fun reading about goals... if our forward line gave me some to write about I could deliver for you.

Dom gave us a genius tactic to counter the funnel press. As opposed to receiving the ball from defence, and turn into two or three tacklers, just pass it back to Kimberley or whichever superstar defender gave the pass and we can merrily go off and attack via a different route. There was no mention of chucking an aerial in the half time team talk though.

In the second half we were much more competitive, less hanging on and more creating chances. We had some shorties but the sonic boom was thwarted. They had a shorty, Charlie Mox queried why Dom wasn't going to go for another drag flick.... because he plays for us fella and we're in white, the same colour of shirt that you're wearing. Also get some blue socks.

Charlie K had a nice little gallop down the left. Dom showed a hint of a good touch, George had a nice ping into the D, Mark did some running, and Singer was on the pitch.

We had a few cheerleaders on the sideline, Messrs Amos, Cole, Moxham, Moxham and Turner... they asked for an aerial, I delivered and absolute beauty onto Charlie K's stick. For some reason Kimberley moans "don't encourage him"... it was needed fella!

All told King in goal and us defenders did our job: a clean sheet against some quality wobblers is not an easy feat. Whilst a draw is probably a fair reflection of the game as a whole, we certainly were less troubled and posed more threats and chances in the second half compared with first. If the second half was actually the second third then heading into the fifth sixth I think we would have been well on top - a good sign for the coming season!

Ones: King, Reesy, Durbs, Kimberley, Bunbury, Weaver, Singer, Mox, Danny, Walker, Skills, Hudson, Charlie K, Mark, Dom

MoM: Andy King

Goalscorers:

Cards: Rob (Yellow)