Day 84

The Reserves faced Dinnington in another friendly today. The main purpose of this one was to give Halstead more match fitness. I also gave starts to Robson, Park (who I want to keep sharp), Sinclair, Taylor, and Rodney, in hopes that they'd impress me and put pressure on the current first-choice starting eleven.

Jamie Taylor looked great out the gate, creating a chance for himself just 20 seconds into the match. He challenged the keeper again in the sixth minute, and the Dinnington number one parried right into the path of Robert Taylor—who dispatched the ball into the empty net.

Jamie Taylor got on the scoresheet in the 15th minute, with a powerful finish from close range to convert Rodney's low cross. Dinnington didn't appear to be picking up the striker at all.

Thorne pulled one back for the away side on 27 minutes. Park lost track of him in the box, and Rawdon was beaten by Dinngton winger Shaw. It wasn't an easy finish, though—Thorne connected with a diving header to put the cross past Halstead in goal.

Lloyd-McGoldrick reinstated our two-goal lead just before the break. From the edge of the box, he cushioned Robert Taylor's cross and dribbled around the defender, then poked the ball goalwards. It slid beneath the Dinnington goalkeeper.

A horrendous back-pass from Rodney gifted Dinnington a goal at the beginning of the second half. He passed the ball straight to Thorn, who only needed to turn and shoot to get his second goal of the game.

The striker amended for his error in the 65th minute, however, getting on the end of Rawdon's cross for our fourth goal.

And that's how it stayed. Finally, a good performance from the Reserves—well the attacking quartet, anyway (Robert Taylor and Lloyd-McGoldrick on the wings; Jamie Taylor and Nialle Rodney up front).

Halstead is now rated as match fit. I'd say he needs one more game before he's ready for the first-team, though. Then it's just a matter of getting a chance—I'm not dropping Anyon unless he screws up or gets injured.