Anstey Nomads 1 - 0 Bilborough Town

Scorer (36)

Town suffered their first defeat in their pre-season campaign on Thursday, as a young side took on higher opposition in Anstey Nomads at Cropston Road. With an average age of just 22, including debutant 16-year-old striker, James Scott-Parkin, Town were unlucky not to take something from a game that was the cliched 'game of two halves'.

On an immaculate pitch, both teams kept the ball well but it was the home side that was having more of the possession, with Morgan and McKeag being worked hard by the flanks. Anstey twice came close in the opening quarter but both shots from the edge of the box drifted over the bar and left Ivanov untroubled. The breakthrough came shortly before the break when a ball was whipped in and nodded down to the home striker on the edge of the box to tuck it away nicely into the bottom corner.

This sparked Town into life and a counter attack saw Stewart see his effort from the edge of the box cannon of the post. Palmer was on-hand for the rebound which the 'keeper saved well and Scott-Parkin put the second rebound just wide of the post.

HT 1-0

There seems to be a recurring theme with Town's performances of late, and that is to come out much stronger in the 2nd half. However, in a game with not many shots on goal, neither team could break each other down and it wasn't until an hour in that there was any more goal action when Ivanov did well to stop the tricky Anstey winger from putting away after a mazy run.

Town almost grabbed an equalizer in a mad spell of 15 minutes at the end, where the friendly felt more like a cup tie as they piled players forward.

It almost paid dividends when captain, Hayes, saw his header from a Stewart corner cleared off the line and Nicholson smashed the post after an outrageous 40-yard effort beat everyone, including the 'keeper. Unfortunately, Town couldn't find a way through and the score remained the same but, playing against a team from a higher league, with a limited squad and a number of youngsters, Town gave a good account of themselves against a very good opposition. FT 1-0