Pre season Report: Reds suffer heavy defeat in final friendly

Alfreton Town suffered a very heavy defeat at the hands of Birmingham City U23s on Saturday as the young Blues side hit six and eased to a win in our final pre season friendly before the new season.

The Reds came under pressure early on with Toby Lees clearing an early cross into the box, Dom Smith nearly found Jake Day with a chipped ball forward but the offside flag went up.

The Blues came forward again and a dangerous cross from the right was nearly touched in at the far post, but George Willis was on hand to intercept the ball behind for a corner. Alfreton were starting brightly but it was just the final ball that lacked. A Bobby Johnson free kick was cleared away before Dan Bradley just couldn't reach another Smith pass.

With 12 gone the Blues took the lead as the number 15 (no team sheets were available) collected a cross from the left and finished back across Willis into the far corner in the box.

Bobby had a free kick well held by the Blues goalie, Day fired over the bar from outside the box before Shaun Tuton also curled an effort straight at the goalkeeper.

The Blues 15 missed a big chance as we mis-placed a pass at the back and he raced on but could only fire wide with Willis to beat. But a minute later on 32, it was 2-0 as the number 10 cut in from the right and curled the ball into the bottom corner.

On 37 it was three, as the Blues 11 collected a pass in the centre and fired in a beauty from 20 yards into the top corner as the vibrant, quick, fluid and composed Birmingham side were too hot to handle. George made a big save again moments later to deny an effort from just a few yards out following a cross from the right.

The second half unfortunately brought more of the same from the Reds with Billy Heath demanding a reaction. A Reds trialist had to make an important clearance at the far post before the Blues 15 fired over at the near post in the box.

On 53 it was 4-0 as the Blues 10 grabbed his second of the game as he escaped a challenge from Smith on the right, surged into the box and fired low into the far corner. Tuton then pulled up with a painful hamstring injury and we saw Rio Molnyeaux introduced on 57.

The hour mark brought the fifth Birmingham goal as the number 11 got his second of the game, tapping home in the box following a cross from the right by the 15. It was nearly six as the Blues number 6 ran through from centre half, combined with the 15 before curling wide from outside the box.

Substitute Reds goalie Teddy Unwin-Marris then tipped over an effort at the near post as Alfreton struggled to generate any openings and were constantly chasing the ball.

On 87 Birmingham completed the scoring and grabbed their sixth, as the 15 got his brace with another tap in following a cross.

It was a poor way for the Reds to end pre season and focus and concentration will need to be ramped up again for Alfreton to get back to the levels shown prior to the Blues game. The real stuff begins on Saturday as we start the 2020/21 campaign with an FA Cup second qualifying round tie at Coalville Town.

ATFCXI: Willis (Unwin-Marris 71), Clackstone (Trialist 76), Trialist (Trialist 76), Branson, Lund (Trialist 45), Lees, Smith, Bradley (c), Tuton (Molnyeaux 57), Johnson (Trialist 61), Day (Clarke 45).

Attendance: Behind Closed Doors at Trillon Training Centre