De unge fik chancen igen.
Hvad der gjorde udslaget må stå uvist hen, men startelleveren mod Bognor Reis blev langt yngre end det umiddelbart var lagt op til så flere seniorspillere sad over og fik et hvil før den kommende lørdags sidste testkamp. Således fik akademispillere som Harvey Laidlaw, Jack Fox og Maxwell Hurst alle chancen fra start sammen med de lidt ældre af slagsen, der allerede havde kampe for førsteholdet i benene. Det gav ikke overraskende kampen et mere jævnt billede, og i sidste ende blev det altså heller ikke til mere end 1-1 på det mål som Jewitt-White satte ind før pausen.
Den officielle kamprapport:
Danny Cowleys tanker efter kampen
“Against a well organised side, I thought it was a really good experience for our younger players. I think our average age was something like 18-and-a-half – although Ryan Tunnicliffe dragged it up a bit! We had three 16-year-olds out there and I thought that Jack, Harvey and Maxwell did well. They impressed me with how they applied themselves and will be better because of the game. I don’t think we quite got it right in the first half, although adapted slightly better after the break and were better tactically to control the middle of the pitch. We had more control and there was plenty of endeavour, with Zak Swanson doing particularly well out of the senior players. He looked a real threat with his athleticism and quality whenever he was able to get round the outside of Alfie Bridgman. We also got match minutes into players and it was the first time those out there would have got 90 in the tank.”
“We’re really appreciative of Bognor for inviting us to play them. It’s a great club and they’ve got some fantastic facilities. We have an excellent relationship with Robbie Blake and Jack Pearce, with a few of our boys on loan there last season. They really benefitted from their time with Bognor and are now in a much better place because of the opportunities they gave them.”
Træningskamp, Nyewood Lane, 20. juli 2022
Bognor Regis Town – Portsmouth 1-1 (0-2)
20. minut: 1-0 Dembele
38. minut: 1-1 Harry Jewitt-White
Opstillingen (4-1-4-1): Steward (Oluwayemi ‘64); Swanson, Fox, Vincent, Laidlaw; Mingi (anfører); Bridgman, Jewitt-White, Tunnicliffe, Hurst; Gifford
Advarsler: Ikke oplyst
Udvisninger: Ingen
Tilskuere: Ikke oplyst
Josh Oluwayemi.