Town opened their pre-season campaign with a 1-1 draw at Boston United. Nicky Forster put the Blues in front from the spot in the first half but Anthony Elding netted an equaliser for the home side in the closing minutes. Julian Watkins sent us this report.
Being Jim Magilton's first game in charge I was one many didn't want to miss it and, although the crowd was not huge, a large number of those present were Town fans. The new management team got a good reception as did the players, and it certainly felt good to be back on the terraces.
It was a bit like two short games today, with the sides being completely changed at half-time. The game started for Town with the following line-up: Price in goal, Sito, Casement, De Vos, and Krause across the back, Peters, Williams and trialists Bertin and Bopp in midfield, and Forster and Bowditch up front.
Both teams looked like they had something to prove and, although the game was played in the spirit of a friendly, Boston put in some rugged challenges throughout.
The Pilgrims set out their stall with an early freekick which fizzed just over the bar and Chris Casement had to be sharp to tackle away a long ball that almost found a forward. Lewis Price was in action on the quarter hour, forced into a smart save to warm his hands.
In between, Town had squandered a chance at the other end, Nicky Forster putting in a decent cross which Dean Bowditch managed to sky from eight yards, before Eugen Bopp hit his follow-up effort wide.
The back line was reasonably solid given the early chances, De Vos was certainly making himself heard, bossing James Krause. Casement looked sharp and it was good to see a lively Sito. The Spaniard was pushing forward on occasion and sent in a good cross finding Bopp, who shot over from 10 yards.
Jaime Peters did well on the whole causing trouble on the right, forcing a corner or two and having to ride several tough challenges, although the referee wasn't letting the game get out of hand. Gavin Williams was steady in the midfield too and looked pretty fit.
Bopp had a really well-struck effort from outside the box pushed away before Boston won a corner at the other end, a forward being allowed a free header which thankfully went wide.
Bertin took time to get into the game but had his moments, he gave the ball away too easily in the middle on one occasion but bounced up to race back and regain possession through a well-timed and crucial tackle.
The main moment of the half came just minutes before the break, with Nicky Forster being felled in the box as he bullied forward. The lino seemed to give the decision, and Forster himself stepped up to slot the ball just inside the left hand post, the keeper guessing the right way.
Half-time saw a complete team change. Jim was obviously not making any tactical judgements during the match, it was all about seeing what individuals could do.
Supple took over in goal, with Moore, Naylor, Wilnis and Barron at the back behind Currie, Skard, trialist Healy and Westlake. Up front were Clarke and Parkin.
Darren Currie started what was to be a lively game for him with a freekick from around 35 yards out. He tried an ambitious shot which sailed over.
Boston didn't change their game plan and still pushed Town, almost catching us out with a similar freekick a minute later, Richard Naylor blocking and clearing.
The first of what seemed to be a dozen Sam Parkin headed efforts came from another freekick earned when Clarke was felled 30 yards out, Currie sending in the set piece.
Moore and Naylor were having to be on their toes, both making some pretty good clearances, Moore making a crucial goal-line clearance early in the half.
Naylor was pretty dependable as usual, apart from a late misjudgement allowing a Boston forward through off a long ball, but the striker thankfully fluffed the shot.
Fabian Wilnis did a good job, remaining calm when under threat and being generally pretty solid. Scott Barron was good while he lasted but had to be withdrawn, presumably through taking a knock, with Casement returning to the field in his place.
The third of today's trialists, Colin Healy, had a quiet and unassuming match on the whole, but having his moments notably when he picked up a ball from Moore and crossed well only for Skard to waste the effort.
As the game wore on Shane Supple found himself on the end of a fair few shots, most failing to trouble him. It was obvious Boston sniffed an equaliser.
Town's front partnership in Billy Clarke and Sam Parkin were getting a number of efforts, mostly with Clarke playing wider and sending in the balls to Parkin who must have considered himself unlucky not to score. I was impressed with Clarke's pacy display and Parkin looked involved and hungry for it.
Eventually, with literally seconds to go before the final whistle, Boston got the equaliser they probably felt they deserved. Their forward Anthony Elding had proved a thorn in the side for the second half with more than a few good efforts. His shot having charged onto the ball wide of goal 12 yards out was very well struck and gave Supple little chance as it blasted past him.
Not a bad afternoon, nothing at stake for the club and a chance for a few people to prove themselves in front of their new or prospective boss. A decent enough crowd, which was mixed together incidentally, no home and away. In fact praise for the Town fans from the stewards after the game too.
Hard to judge on the trialists, Healy was quiet, Bertin and Bopp perhaps more lively. No surprises elsewhere, pretty much business as usual although we had Deano back and running. That's probably the last I'll see of them until the real thing in August, and was, I think, enough to keep me happy until then.