Reds Reserves produced a good performance against Annan Athletic U19s to come away with a 2-1 victory at the Galabank ground.
The young Reserves side consisted of only 3 over 18s in each half otherwise the Reserves were made up of 16 and 17 year olds.
On the superb Galabank surface the Reds started crisply and were soon into their flowing passing game.
Playing down the slope but against a strong blustering wind they suffered an early set back when right back Craig Johnston went over on his ankle and came off after only 12 minutes, replaced by Simon Bragg.
Chances were few and far between in the first period but the Reserves were on top and probing the Annan defence all the time.
Jordan Lee came closest for the Reserves in the first half when he cut in off the right wing and his left foot shot clipped the top of the Annan cross bar.
Up at the other end, Annan from an attack got to the Reds goal line and were awarded a penalty.
Greg Mitchell, the stand in keeper for the reserves, made a fine save to keep the score at 0-0. Greg saved a penalty last season when he went in goals at Lancaster when James Bryden, the regular Reserves keeper was sent off.
Anna came more into the game and 10 minutes before half time Annan won a corner. The wind assisted in-swinging ball found its way into the far top corner of the goal and for the third friendly in a row the Reserves have gone a goal down in the first half.
Five changes were made at half time with additionally a formation change from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2.
The changes has an immediate impact as Simon Bragg, Barry Armfield and Stefan Scott produced some good passing interplay before Stefan Scott released Jordan Lee down the right wing.
Jordan Lee got to the goal line and cut the ball back to the Annan far post where Levi Johnson was eagerly waiting to level the scores.
Annan were struggling to get out of their own half against the dominant Reds and the strong wind.
Adam Main, who was on duty for the first team at Tow Law less than twenty four hours earlier, ran on to a Barry Armfield lay off 18 yards out and hit powerful drive low into the bottom corner to make it 2-1 to the Reserves.
Annan to their credit dug in and went for the equaliser, but Greg Mitchell in the Reserves’ goal was rarely troubled in the 2nd half.
The final score was 2-1 to the Reserves in what was an entertaining game played in a good competitive spirit.
The Reserves pick of the day in no particular order were Adam Maine, Jordan Lee and Nick Holden.
Reserves: Greg Mitchell, Jake Smith, Craig Johnston (Simon Bragg 12), George Close (Bryan Rutherford 45), Dan McDermott (George Close 70), Dan Gullen (Barry Armfield 45), Adam Main, Callum Lee (Stefan Scott 45), Gareth Brunton, (Sam Smith 45), Jason Lee, Nick Holden (Levi Johnson 45).
Manager Steve Lee commented, “I was really pleased they got the result because they deserved it. I wanted to consolidate in the first half and tie their centre midfield down thus playing 4-5-1.”
“The U18s are well used to this formation and it’s a formation we will have to use at some point on tough away games or even possibly tough home games.”
“Nick Holden did a great job as a lone striker and I told him at half time, when he knew he was coming off.”
“Adam Maine had his best game I have seen him play and I’m really happy with the pace, guile and cover we have out wide.”
“Annan’s last result before playing us was a 6-2 defeat to Hamilton, which sounds poor but Hamilton though are a very good Scottish Premier Academy team with several Scottish youth internationals.”
“We now move on to Cleator Moor Celtic on Tuesday night for our last pre-season game and I know my friend down there Martin Mahone will have Celtic in good fettle.”
“We then step in to the unknown when we start the Reserves League with a home game on August 13th, our opponents are Fylde who are newcomers to the league.”
“My plan for the squad of players I have is to rotate them for games so that we keep hold of the nucleus of 25 players. The last thing me or Herbert Briggs want to be doing is ringing around at 4 o’clock getting players to go to Liverpool at 4.30 on a Thursday night."