Town's veterans are going into Saturday's London Masters promising goals this time around. Last year, in the Central Masters, the Blues became the only side in the tournament's history to fail to find the back of the net.

Simon Milton is again in the side and is definitiely after goals: "We hope to score this time around to say the least. If we don't then I won't be able to return to the Academy!

And if Bontcho doesn't score again I won't let him near the Masters again."

Milton feels that experience is a big factor to success is the six-a-side game: "Once you've played a few times you understand it more. That's why John Wark is so good for Liverpool. He just comes on scores and then goes off again. Constant substitutions are the key."

A new boy in the Town line-up is Jason Dozzell, who only just qualifies for the under-35 tournament. The former Colchester man is 35 by the end of the year and could become the youngest scorer in Masters Football, an interesting parallel with his professional career.

Dozzell is looking forward to it: "It will be an interesting challenge and I hope we do better than last year."

The midfielder has been in pre-season training with Canvey Island but is yet to make a decision on whether to join them: "I've trained and the foot has been OK, but it is yet to take a strong tackle, so we'll have to see how that goes. I'm going to be involved in some pre-season games with Canvey and that will be the test."

One player out of the tournament is Neil Thompson who withdrew this week, presumably due to the extra responsibility he now has at Boston. The former left-back has taken over as manager while boss Steve Evans is suspended.

In for him is Paul Mason in a squad which looks slightly stronger on the attacking front than last year: Jon Hallworth, Simon Milton, Jason Dozzell, Trevor Putney, Bontcho Guentchev, Ian Atkins, Irvin Gernon, Mark Brennan, Paul Mason and Neil Woods plus manager Kevin Beattie.

Town will face Millwall, Arsenal and Spurs at the London Arena with a 6.30pm start and the tournament is covered live by Sky.

Photo: Action Images

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