STC hosted another good quality friendly for the mighty reserves this week, with Bexlians first team, a team whose reserve outfit will be Tudor's opposition in the championship chase.
With injuries and absences preventing the gaffer from being able to select from his full quota, this tough friendly was entered into with some apprehension.
As usual, the blues set up with their favoured 4-5-1 formation, with Stefan, a usual first teamer dropping down for some much needed minutes, leading the line on his own.
The game was welcomed with a summery showering of rain which added some much needed zip, and it suited Tudor, who dominated without doubt and without opposition response for all but every minute of the first half.
Some half chances from Elliott and Stef gave Bexlians a warning sign, and when Elliott received the ball from Sam Friskey from inside left, Billy Jolley had left his man down the right, the ball was delivered to him and he took it very well, manouvring himself some space inside from the right, looking up to see an isolated Stef peeling off his man, the defenders backed off awaiting the cross from around 35 yards from goal, the cross never came, instead Jolley moved the ball quickly out of his feet and drilled the ball in to the top right hand corner with 'Keeper caught unaware and totally helpless to stop the rocket.
1-0 to the Blues! It was the least we deserved.
Relaxation set in, but complacency did not, Tudor gave away one corner which led to a heart-in-mouth in which, Reiss, on fine form on Saturday caught a ball and smothered only to see it escape due to the rain, Reece Hay at the back post was there to clean it up, job done.
The Blues defence were happy to play it out the back and after the 1-0 lead they were in no rush, this produced the best football of the day, with both Joe Townsend and Sam Friskey both standing balls up from deep for the forward players to get on to, Elliott and Stef were guilty of spurning the much needed chances of a cushion.
The half-time break was not welcomed by the Blues, and prayed for by Bexlians, Tudor had begun turning the screw.
HALF TIME
After a half-time teamtalk asking for more of the same, more haste less speed was the order of the day, Sam Friskey as captain was drumming into the midfield that we can play amongst the midfield without rushing it forward at the first opportunity.
Whether through lack of match fitness, the weather turning into a scorcher or a lack of pride, Tudor's intensity dropped and so did our willingness to play football, too many long balls to a lone striker led to far too much unnecessary pressure.Bexlians reacted to this and pushed high up the pitch and the momentum swung for a period of around the middle 15minutes of the half, in which they capitalised and scored from a innocuous free kick into the area which should have been a simple punch from the 'Keeper but with the defensive line dropping on his toes, in spite of setpiece training in the week, the 'Keeper was helpless to see a red shirt scramble it in.
In reaction to this Tudor went searching, bringing on Craig Flynn and Joe Catchesides to bolster the attack however it proved too late to impact although both forwards were guilty of missing chances, a one-on-one and close ranger header respectively.
FULL-TIME ending all square at 1-1
In spite of the disappointment in a draw, a depleted squad of Tudor Reserves showed spirit and abilitiy for the most part of the game and can take solace in welcoming fellow squad members back next week. We deserved the win, but the draw shows we have a lot more work to do.
