Manager Gary Johnson was pleased with the workout his side received on Saturday, as his side secured a 3-2 win over Hemel Hempstead in their opening pre-season friendly at Plainmoor.
Although victories are always pleasing, the minutes gained by the players involved was even more important, with the 2020/21 National League season now just three weeks away.
“We’re 12 days into stage two – well, two and a half really – and I was pleased with the workout,” began Johnson, who noticed a marked improvement in his side’s second-half performance.
“You could see they were fading, and feeling sorry for themselves. We then picked them up a bit a little bit at half-time, saying you’re not coming off – you’re staying on. I’ll decide when you come off.
“Then they knew they had to calm it down a little bit more, pass the ball, and create more opportunities than they did in the first half. We had a lot of play, but we were always susceptible to the break, because we had a lot of play. We gave it away too many times, but in the second half we were a lot more incisive. We showed our power, pace and penetration, and to score three goals was good.”
“I took people to – at the moment – their limits as far as 90 minute games are concerned. They [Hemel] changed a few more people than us, and I’ve got to get a few of the boys that are not playing at the moment, and not training, back so that we have a bigger squad. We’ve got the squad, and we can’t afford to play anyone that already has a slight problem, whatever it is. We’ll get a couple back on Monday, that will be good, and then a couple more back a week or two after that.
“I was pleased it was a good game for TV in the end, five goals, and I was pleased that two strikers scored – that’s always good.
Although new strikers Danny Wright and Josh Umerah both netted, United’s other new addition to their striking roster, Andrew Nelson, was withdrawn early on, following an incident that saw the United striker, and a Hemel defender both receive bookings, with Johnson providing the following explanation.
“I’ll deal with Nelse – He tries so hard to impress that he got involved in a shenanigan. You can’t do that, because in the National League, he’d have got sent off, and have got his teammates in trouble. We’d have had to play with ten men, and we haven’t got that fitness yet.
“He’ll learn, but he’s got to calm down a little bit. I believe in him, and he’s got to not get as aerated as he did over that sort of incident. I just think it was because he was trying too hard. We’ve got to calm him down a little bit, and then his quality will come in.
Lee Bircham’s Hemel Hempstead side provided The Gulls with just the kind of competitive encounter that they needed in their pre-season preparations, and United’s manager took time to praise the efforts of the visitors.
“We know what the National League South is like and they were fit.
“This was about their third game, so they must have started back earlier than us, but I think they showed some qualities. They were strong, and early on they were very busy and animated
“I think Lee has done well getting that squad together, because they were definitely athletic, but I felt we always had the upper hand in quality and passing the ball. I think we had a few more chances, but it certainly was a competitive game, so credit to them, and I’m sure they will be OK in National League South.
With another friendly against Bournemouth U23s only three days away, Johnson also paid tribute to the youth team players that took to the field against Hemel, all of whom contributed towards the win, whilst a number of United’s senior pros continue to be eased back into action.
“To have four kids as part of our group was fantastic, and that really warms the cockles of your heart. I was really pleased with them, really pleased, because they didn’t let us down at all.
“We’ve got to be careful what we do with them. When we arranged the Tuesday game, we were hoping we’d have a squad of 20/22, but that’s not the case, so we’ll have to wait and see. The good thing is that the young boys that were brought on did well, and were part of that win in the last fifteen minutes or so, and played their part.”