Match Report:
New Town Rangers were under the control of the portly figure of Robert Dear for this the second game of pre season against Braughing Rovers from the Hertfordshire league.

Caretaker manager Dear was left with just eleven players to choose from due to various injuries, work commitments and sex holidays in Benidorm and so it was a case of fitting one or two square pegs in round holes in order to get as strong a side out as possible. O'Keeffe stepped up and volunteered to take the goalie gloves, Ojo made his first start for New Town in the middle of the pitch whilst at left back we saw the return of Kellow from Navy duty. Powell took the captains armband against his former club.

The first half got underway and New Town despite the changes in personnel were playing some lovely football, Ojo was running the midfield, defence and attack and occasionally releasing the ball so others could play. The ball was being spread around beautifully with numerous openings being carved out by the away side whilst at the back any half chances were being easily dealt with, O'Keeffe handling well when called into action. It was no surprise therefore when the first goal came along with a corner being whipped in from the right by Messaoud for Noble to rise well and direct his header brilliantly into the far corner leaving the goalie with no chance. The only surprise after this was New Town failed to turn their domination into further goals and the final 15 minutes of the half in fact was much more even with the away side needing to clear off the line moments before the half time whistle. At half time the message was simply more of the same with New Town pleased with their efforts however realising they needed to get a stranglehold back in the middle of the pitch with Braughing coming back into the game. Half time also saw defender, club captain, chairman and manager for the day Dear decide he did not have enough jobs and so he took on the role of physiotherapist to rub cream onto O'Keeffe's back, which took O'Keeffe by surprise as he had a neck injury!

This rather disturbing sight seemed to distract New Town as the second half started in terrible fashion and within 5 minutes of the restart the away side found themselves 2-1 down. A slick passing move from Braughing saw them get in on goal for the first time in the match with a neat finish off the post for the equaliser. Rangers will be disappointed with the second goal with the Braughing right winger crossing for the number 9 to head home over O'Keeffe.

With 30 minutes to go we then had the main talking point of the match, after a disagreement between New Town Rangers new number 9 Barry Watkins and the Braughing captain over whether or not the ball had gone out of play or not. Watkins decided in the spirit of the game and following the touching moment between O'Keeffe and Dear at half time that he would touch heads with the Braughing captain rather like a rutting stag moving in on a hind, this beautiful gesture was not reciprocated by the Braughing man who then attempted to remove Watkins head from his shoulders. The next 5 minutes saw handbags being thrown about all over the place. Order was restored and with Watkins sin binned the game got back under way.

New Town re-jigged positions for the last quarter of the game with Dear taking over from O'Keeffe in goal, this seemed to coincide with the away side picking up momentum again and getting back to all that was good with the first half hour. Then with 5 minutes to go and following another New Town attack the home sides goalkeeper dropped the ball under pressure from Ojo, Sam was then able to round the grounded Braughing number 1 before hitting a cross shot which was handled in the area, penalty to New Town.

56 year old Needham placed the ball on the spot and with the whole away side having absolute faith that he would miss horribly stepped up and hit an unstoppable rocket to the goalies left.

The final few minutes saw the away side pressing but without managing another break through the scores finished level.

New Town will be pleased with the performance coming with so many players out and others playing in new positions, at times particularly in the first half the football was excellent but now New Town will need to step it up with the season opener just weeks away.

Starting XI: B.Watkins M.Kumwenda G.Needham J.O'Keeffe G.Powell M.Bellworthy S.Gill R.Dear (C) M.Noble S.Bees C.Green

Rolling Subs: J-P.Healey A.Messaoud S.Ojo I.Ray