Kimberley MW 2-1 Radford FC (Friendly)

Radford got off to a cracking start when they took the lead after 3 minutes. From their third corner they took the lead when the ball ended up in the net after hitting the shoulder of a striker. Radford were looking good in the early stages and were playing some neat football. The Radford left back was guilty of a missed opportunity on 15 minutes. The ball was crossed in from the right wing over the defence, but instead of shooting he cut inside onto his right foot and his shot was blocked.

The Radford defence, had been playing well until 35 minutes into the game, they tried to play offside but a Kimberley striker timed his run perfectly, ran on and chipped the keeper from just inside the area.  A number of substitutions had been made after 30 minutes by Radford to try out new players but they were now looking disjointed. A Welfare free kick wide on the left went over the heads of all the players near the penalty spot and found the right winger near the far post, who headed narrowly wide of the upright.

Radford found a great attacking outlet on the left wing where their new French trialist was wreaking havoc. He was making several rampaging runs and in one beginning from the halfway line he beat four players before a rocket of a shot flew over the bar. Minutes later ‘Frenchie,’ sent over a perfect cross that found a striker but the Kimberley keeper saved the goal bound effort. As the game entered its final stages Kimberley were getting greater possession and this paid off when a forward raced through a static Radford defence to give the home side a 2-1 victory.

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Radford FC 3-2 Blidworth Welfare (Friendly)

This was Radfords first pre-season friendly, the opposition were Blidworth Welfare FC and the game was played at Trent Vale Road, former home of GPT Plessey. Radford recently had the shock of having both the first and reserve team defecting with their managers to other clubs. Twenty players turned up for the pheasants and they all got a game. With Iain McCullach away Alf Staley took charge.

Radford in their Claret strip started the brighter and were in control for much of the first half hour. Richard Dean and Conor Naylor were influential in midfield while Tobias Richardson was commanding at centre half. Five minutes into the game Radford had their first opportunity to score when a Richard Dean free kick struck the Blidworth crossbar. Two minutes later Radford took the lead, after a corner was cleared to the edge of the area Roberto Labbate floated the ball over a stranded keeper to put the Pheasants one up.

It wasn't until the 22nd minute that Blidworth had their first effort on goal. Josh Brentnall went on a weaving run along the Radford penalty area before blasting the ball over. Five minutes later Blidworth found the equaliser after some poor defending allowed a striker to score from close range. Radford substituted several players on the 30 minute mark which led to greater possession for the Blidworth side. A mix up in the Radford defence led to a free shot on goal from close range which surprisingly flew wide of the upright. Danny Pownall came on for Radford and immediately created problems for the Blidworth defence. It was a Pownall run and cross that led to Ben Holmes nipping in to flick the ball home from inside the box to give Radford a 2-1 lead.

As the game reached the hour mark Blidworth pulled it back to 2-2. A long clearance upfield found the strong centre forward who beat off the challenges of two defenders before beating the Radford keeper. Ten minutes from time Radford regained the lead. After Kyle Crofts had played Pownall in down the left wing Pownall put over a low cross into the box for Nathanial Daly to tap home. Blidworth came close to finding an equaliser near full time when a forward raced through the defence unchallenged only to see his shot go wide. Full Time result,  Radford FC 3-2 Blidworth Welfare.