A new preseason tournament for ourselves, a new venue but not yet our first preseason win. This was certainly an enjoyable game for all involved and a great advert for Sunday morning football. Both sides played the game hard, fair but in the right spirit giving the excellent referee an easy day.
Chester Red Lion will be opponents in our division this season and gave us a real measure of the level we will need to play to have a chance of winning the league as I believe they will be up there come May.
The game started with both sides playing good football and trying to feel the other team out, it is fair to say Red Lion bossed the first 15 minutes without really testing our keeper. The first real chance of note for Segga came when debutant Parkin scooped the ball delightfully over the keeper only for the Red lion centre half to clear from the goal line
The first goal came courtesy of a corner which to my mind we were too slow to pick up Red shirts and a well uted volley at the near post gave advantage to our opponents, this is something we need to work on as simple things cost us dear last season
We were back in the game with a sublime 25 yard strike into the top left hand corner from Sanderson, as soon as the ball left his boot everyone knew it was in and there was very little the keeper could have done to keep this out. With this the confidence rose in the Sacriston ranks and shortly after Wilson put us in front for the first time this season. The ball was passed to the right side of the box and Wilson drover the ball into the same corner Sanderson had earlier.
The next ten minutes should never happen in football however we were forced into three subs due to knocks to Wilson, Sanderson and Nicholson - making use of the rolling subs rule was helpful however we seemed disjointed by the three changes to personnel and conceded an equaliser the ball played inside the full back.
Half Time 2-2
An encouraging first half led us into the second with confidence we could win the game, I spoke with Mick Dalkin of Red lion after the game and we agreed both teams looked physically beat in the second half - I'm certain quality is there we need to make sure we use preseason to top up the fitness levels.
Further changes using the rolling subs saw various players on and off however the disappointing nature of the Lion third goal is the only blemish on a good display. A call from Adam say Dawson leave the ball and in the split second of doubt Adam unfortunately dropped the ball into the path of the opposition number 11 who made no mistake. Adam knows I'm not blaming him he's two games into playing with a new set of lads and our opinion doesn't change on one error - chin up lad.
Segga went close on three occasions via Parkin, Wilson and Burn but the goal that would have seen a penalty shootout didn't come
I'd like to wish Mick and Chester Red Lion all the best for the final next week and look forward to playing against your lads at least another three times this season - if every game is that that I'm sure we'll enjoy it (maybe the result will be different)
