Summer Nights

There is something very special about watching football on a summer evening.
Maybe it is the cool breeze after a hot day in the office. The informality of being able to mix with fans of the opposing team and even with those closely associated with the club. At Solihull I was a few feet away from the manager applying sauces to his hot dog and later in the midst of one of the player’s family.
It could be the optimism that comes with the new season about to dawn or the first sightings of players that will hopefully be the stars of the future.
The Moors ground is just a few minutes drive from my office so fell into the category of “rude not too" when assessing the viability of a detour on the way home. Billed originally as a first team fixture against Wednesdays “Albion XI" the side that took the pitch contained no more than five of the likely starting XI in August, though Joe Sbarra may have something to say about that if his pre-season continues as it has begun. Darren Bent was a surprise inclusion up front. Certainly not expecting him to fit into the budget if Tomas Egert doesn’t.
And once again, a name from the old spreadsheets returned to make a mark when Adi Yussuf put the home side ahead. Should have been two just before the break with the inside of Harry Campbell’s post coming to his rescue.
More young faces after the break with the average age counter balanced by an outing for coach Chris Beardsley. A moment of pure class for Sbarra levelled the scores. Control, good movement of the ball into space and a perfectly executed lob/chip over the keeper.
Short lived as defensive frailties, with the original pairing of Turner and Brayford replaced by McCrory moving in from full back and Ben Hart from the academy saw the home team recover the lead and subsequently extend it before Beardsley got on the end of a Bent header to bundle in a late second.
Not sure what it told us in terms of preparation. A second half strike force of Bent and Beardsley won’t be around once the serious business starts and of the younger players, good as it was to see them in action, only Sbarra suggested that we will be seeing him regularly, though Hutchinson, on to cover McCrory’s move across, continued his good work from Saturday and could be earning himself a place in the match day 18.
Which means that the starting XI at Alfreton should be at least as strong and probably closer to the Rochdale line up with Bywater, McFadzean, Buxton, Akins, Fraser, Templeton,Lund and Boyce all appering to be residents of the top half of Nigel's geographical selection draw.
But despite another defeat, a really pleasant night out and one that I am more than happy to share a few thoughts with you about. I enjoy it and I thank you for the positive responses after my last two posts. Not everyone’s cup of tea it seems but I’m happy to take a few minutes to comment on live action watching our local team. Beats discussing the team selections of a money grabbing transatlantic tour by the second best team in Manchester any day.