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Reserves 2-3 Kuwait U23
Reserves 2-3 Kuwait U23
Thursday, 29th Aug 2002 15:45

Town's reserves side lost an entertaining friendly with the Kuwait U23 side at the Training Centre this afternoon. Richard Naylor and Robert Dickinson scored Town's goals but they weren't enough to avoid a rare defeat for the seconsd string currently top of their league.

The first half saw Town largely dominate and Dickinson hit a couple of shots from distance not far over the bar. Matt Robinson headed over ten minutes before the break and the half ended without a goal.

Town went ahead two minutes into the second period, Matt Bloomfield winning the ball halfway inside the Kuwait half. He played the ball left to Dickinson who sent in a low cross to Naylor who turned and stabbed the ball past the keeper.

The Kuwaitis looked a technically good side, but other than a couple of hefty midfield challenges on Matt Bloomfield who was less than impressed, they didn't seem used to the physical side of the game.

However, as the half wore on and they made a few substitutions, they came more and more into the game and it was hardly a surprise when, on 62, Khalaf Al Salama equalised after being found in too much space on the right of the Town area, finishing to the excellent Price's left.

Town went straight up the other end and put themselves back in front, Dickinson taking the ball past a couple of defenders before curling a shot from the edge of the area into the top right-hand corner of the net.

But, it was the Middle Eastern side who were the more impressive in the latter stages and Lewis Price was called into action on a number of occasions.

With 12 minutes left on the clock midfielder Khaled Abd Alghados was found in yards of space in the Town box and Price was given little chance as he put the sides on terms.

Matt Robinson missed a great chance to put Town ahead again as he went round the third Kuwaiti keeper of the afternoon, but it was the visitors who would get the final goal of the match.

Matt Bloomfield made a succession of fouls just outside the area and Nehager Al Shemery stepped up and curled the freekick past Price and into the net.

A minute later the whistle went on the Kuwaiti's UK tour which has ended unbeaten. Previously they drew 2-2 with an Aston Villa side and won 4-3 when up against a Southampton XI.

Town: Price, Artun, Beevers (Chaffey 47), Hogg, J Miller, Westlake, Abidallah, Bloomfield, Naylor (Logan 69), Robinson, Dickinson.


Photo: Action Images



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