Day 188

French winger Benjamin Laurant arrived on trial today, just in time to play in the Reserves friendly. Scott Bulloch came in, too, but a couple of hours too late for the friendly. They look to be similar players, although Bulloch is more versatile.

Chris Birchall agreed to my contract offer. Brilliant! I got another player who could be a regular starter for most teams two divisions above us. With Olembé, Shuker, and Marques also fitting that description, I’m now up to four players who are way too good for this league. Barnes-Homer and Koroma have shown that they’re pretty close to being on that list, too.

The coaching staff tell me that Birchall is our best choice in central midfield or on the right flank—even better than Shuker. I can’t wait to see him in action.

Robert Taylor opened the scoring in the 8th minute, nodding Nicky Nicolau’s deep left-wing cross into the empty net after the goalkeeper came out and missed the ball.

The remainder of the first half was horrible. Birchall didn’t seem interested—an attitude I’ll have to make sure disappears before it sneaks into a competitive fixture. Laurant and new striker Ben May struggled to make an impact, and the other players just didn’t do much of note.

The second half looked to only be slightly better, although I hoped for a change when Laurant slid in to convert Nicolau’s cross for our second goal.

We were lucky not to concede when Beardsley passed across goal to a North Ferriby attacker. Good goalkeeping and a poor finish conspired in our favour to keep the scoreline at 2-0.

Birchall and Pacquette both went close before Laurant completed his brace in the 84th minute. Birchall held the ball up just inside his own half, then launched a long ball into the path of the winger. The North Ferriby keeper came out to collect, but he fumbled the ball—leaving Laurant with an easy finish. We won 3-0.

That leaves me liking Laurant—though not enough to offer a contract just yet. Birchall got some important match fitness under his belt, as did injury returnee Jean-François Christophe and fringe players Nicolau, Watson, Taylor, Rodney, and Atkinson.

Newcastle’s Michael Richardson refused to return to Lincoln for a second loan spell. I guess his “sad to leave” comment really was bullshit. I don’t like it when people lie.