Day 126

Zak Ansah strained his knee ligaments in training today. He's looking at two to three months on the sidelines. Poor kid—he just got back from an injury lay-off. And he can't return to Arsenal for better-quality treatment, since apparently we have him on a no-recall loan deal.

Spanish striker Estaban Casagolda joined us on trial today, but not quite early enough to make the Reserves friendly against Matlock.

I gave starts to Olembé and Laurent, hoping to give them some much-needed match fitness. Khano Smith and Johann Smith each got their last chance to impress me, while Pacquette and Robert Taylor returned to the Reserves after being on the fringes of the first team for the past few weeks.

Laurent put the boys in the lead after 12 minutes, flying through the air to meet a Khano Smith cross with an excellent header. It was a majestic leap from the Frenchman.

Khano Smith was sent off in the 33rd minute for a shocking challenge on Daniel Brown. He slid in with two feet when he barely even needed to apply pressure—the ball was deep inside the Matlock half, and neither side had other players nearby. Poor Brown was injured by the challenge; I pray it isn't serious.

I subbed Olembé out for Nicky Nicolau at half time. The Cameroonian was looking tired, and I'm hopeful that he can start for the first team in five days.

Matlock equalised in the 50th minute. Karlton Watson missed his interception of a speculative deep cross, allowing Richardson to sneak in and slide a shot beneath Adamson.

A brilliant through ball from Laurent gave us the lead back in the 68th minute. The speedy Lloyd-McGoldrick raced onto Laurent's pass and calmly placed his shot into the bottom corner of the goal, past the onrushing keeper.

The boys held on for a 2-1 victory, with a strong final 20 minutes where substitutes Woods, Atkinson, and Lloyd-McGoldrick controlled the game. The big highlight, of course, was Laurent's fantastic performance in his first run-out after four months on the sidelines.