Friendly Fire! The Pre-Season Games Have Already Begun

By Sam Elliott

A number of National League clubs are already back in the groove as the pre-season for under way for some of the past few days.

National League North side Boston United had their first friendly of their schedule last night as they fell to a 3-2 defeat to Basford United of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier, after the home side got off to the best start with a goal inside the first minute.

Also playing tonight was Bradford Park Avenue who played out to a 1-1 draw, both goals coming in the second half with Silsden.

AFC as the home side scored a last-minute equaliser, to draw the match after an unnamed trialist had put Bradford PA in front ten minutes into the second period.

Maidenhead United also got their pre-season underway today with a convincing 4-2 win away to Brentford B on Wednesday afternoon, pictured.

The National League side won well with Sean McCormack, Josh Kelly, Nana Owusu and James Akintunde getting on the scoresheet.

This result, despite it being against a Brentford B team, sets the club up to push on for the coming season as they look to better the last campaign’s achievement of 12th place in the National League.

Newly-promoted National League side Havant & Waterlooville got off to a flying start to their pre-season with an 8-0 victory away to Gosport Borough on Tuesday.

Theo Lewis was the man to watch in this one as he bagged himself a hat-trick.

Also on the score sheet was Josh Huggins, Alfie Rutherford, Alfie Pavey and a trialist, in a match which could have been more should new signing Nicke Kabamba smashed his penalty onto the crossbar after he was adjudged to have been fouled.

The other team who was played that night was Weston-super-Mare who beat Brimscombe and Thrupp 3-4 on Wednesday night. Ben Swallow, Jarrad Welch, Eli Phipps and Jamie Lucas were on the scoresheet for the Seagulls.

Where next?

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