EFL and Non League: Friendlies Review – 7th July 2024

Club football is in full swing and with that in mind, we have a pre-season friendlies review covering our EFL and non league sides.

Players are starting to get back in shape for the beginning of the upcoming campaign. Depending on the club and level they’re at, they head to places with better climatic conditions than at home to ease the players in, or to places with harsher climates so the players could hit the ground running when the season kicks in.

It also gives managers the opportunity to blend new players into the team, try out different tactics or help players adapt to a new manager and his techniques.

Commercial aspects for top flight sides can be the main reason for the tours. The team is in a place where they want to increase the fanbase, regardless of the climate and/or conditions and made to play high-profile friendlies which are of absolutely no use, as the only purpose they fulfill is filling the stadiums. Despite the torrential rain, bad condition of the pitch, efforts were made till the last minute to make sure the match happened.

The commercial aspect has now become the priority, which shouldn’t be the case. If you go to another country, Premier League / big six clubs should play the local teams for the simple reason that it helps everyone.

Right, time to take a look at the EFL and non league friendlies review…

PARKGATE 0-7 ROTHERHAM

Joshua Kayode’s first half brace saw the Millers go in at the break two to the good. Then in the second half, four goals from Nombe and one for Tom Eaves saw the Millers run out 7-0 winners.

Eaves nearly got Rotherham an eighth, only for the defender to hook it off the line. Check out the highlights via fan footage below…

RUFC FIRST HALF XI | Phillips, Rafferty, Raggett, Humphreys, James, Rathbone, Kelly, Powell, Hatton, Hugill, Kayode.

RUFC SECOND HALF XI | Dawson, Gardner, Odoffin, Jules, Bramall, Clarke, Tiehi, MacDonald, Giwa, Eaves, Nombe.

PENRITH 0-8 CARLISLE

Penrith AFC – Taylor, Piele (61’ Gordon), Bell (61’ Holden), May (67’ Prokas), Morrey (82’ Hope), Moynan © (61’ Grandison), Moore (67’ Moore), Coombe, Coleman, Hunter (82’ Rebanks), Hammell (82’ Williamson)

Carlisle United (first-half) – Lewis, Lavelle ©, Haydon, Robson, Wyke (33’ Hetherington), Butterworth, Vela, Harper, McGeouch, O’Brien, Hopper

Carlisle United (second-half) – Breeze, Thomas ©, Charters, Neal, Mellish, Barclay, Allen, Fitzpatrick, Armstrong, Hetherington, O’Donoghue

Goals: Harper 3′, Butterworth 9′, 43′; Charters 50′ pen, 73′; Armstrong 52′; Hetherington 90′; O’Donoghue 90′.

Match officials:
Referee – Scott Henry

Attendance: 1,030

⚽️ Here’s all 8⃣ goals from last night’s pre-season friendly against Penrith. pic.twitter.com/OPAWFexRbD

— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) July 6, 2024

🗣️ Here’s what Paul Simpson had to say after tonight’s friendly against Penrith, including comments on Andrew Jenkins as well as an update on injuries and potential incoming and outgoing transfer news. pic.twitter.com/65pbSIgObd

— Carlisle United FC (@officialcufc) July 5, 2024

MELKSHAM 2-4 BRISTOL ROVERS

Melksham Town: Kelsey, Summerfields, Bennett, Lynden, James, Morgan, Graham, Cattermole (Cronin 55), Trialist A (Stroud 55), Witt, Pedro

Subs: Haffenen, Arlow, Phillips

Goals: Stroud 58, Graham 60 (p)

Bristol Rovers: Ward (Hall 46), Moore (Ellison 46), Wilson (White 46), Mola (Connolly 46), Senior (Leipus 46) (Sughayer 71), Conteh (Shaw 46), Lawrence (Edwards 46), Thomas (Bilongo 46), Hutchinson (McCormick 46), Sinclair (Dewsbury 46), Sotiriou (Brown 46)

Goals: Hutchinson 10, Dewsbury 47, Ellison 70, 76,

Attendance: 903

QPR (Eng) 2-0 UE SANTA COLOMA (And)

Goals from Ilias Chair (41 minutes) and Michael Frey (75) gave Martí Cifuentes’ R’s victory in this behind-closed-doors friendly fixture.

QPR (first half): Walsh, Dunne, Morrison, Clarke-Salter, Paal, Field, Dixon-Bonner, Smyth, Murphy (Talla 30), Chair, Armstrong.

QPR (second half): Mahoney, Santos, Cannon, Cook, Fox, Larkeche, Colback, Tuck (Bennie 70), Andersen, Kolli (Lloyd 70), Frey.

NEWCASTLE TOWN 1-3 PORT VALE

Port Vale secured a a 3-1 victory over local side Newcastle Town in their first friendly of the 2024/25 pre-season thanks to an opener from Lorent Tolaj and a brace from Ethan Chislett.

PVFC FIRST HALF XI: Ben Amos, Tom Sang, Deklan Wynne, Funso Ojo, Nathan Smith, Dan Jones, Ronan Curtis, Conor Grant, Ryan Loft, Lorent Tolaj, James Plant.

PVFC SECOND HALF XI: Ben Amos, Mitch Clark, Sam Hart, Jason Lowe, Jesse Debrah, Connor Hall, Ethan Chislett, Ryan Croasdale, Jayden Stockley, Ben Garrity, Trialist C

PVFC SUBS: Aaron Davies, Andrew Buah, Baylee Dipepa, Ben Lomax, Jack Shorrock, Trialist A, Trialist B.

KIDSGROVE 0-1 PORT VALE

Port Vale won their second pre-season game, a 1-0 victory thanks to Ronan Curtis’ first-half goal.

PVFC FIRST HALF XI: Connor Ripley, Tom Sang, Deklan Wynne, Funso Ojo, Nathan Smith, Dan Jones, Ronan Curtis, Trialist A, Baylee Dipepa, Lorent Tolaj, Jack Shorrock

PBVFC SECOND HALF XI: Connor Ripley, Ben Lomax, Mitch Clark, Jason Lowe, Jesse Debrah, Connor Hall, Ethan Chislett (Andrew Buah ’75), Ryan Croasdale, Jayden Stockley, Ben Garrity, Trialist B

ALFRETON 0-2 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Goals either side of the break from Josh Windass and Malik Wilks saw Sheffield Wednesday beat Alfreton at the Impact Arena on Saturday.

SWFC First half: Hamer, Valery, Ihiekwe, Famewo, Johnson, Bannan, Musaba, Shipston, Gassama, Paterson, Windass

SWFC Second half: Charles, Valentin, Diaby, Otegbayo, M Lowe, Palmer, Ingelsson, Wilks, Kobacki, Cadamarteri, Smith

CHESTER 2-3 STOCKPORT

Chester 2 (Caton, 57; Williams, 81), County 3 (Gardner, 27; Wootton, 39; Bate, 43).

CHESTER: Mason, Bott, Burke, Roberts (Hunter 46), Trialist (Williams 46), Woodthorpe (Heywood 46), Murray (Davies 59), Weeks (Hancox 46), Bainbridge (Glendon 46), Peers (Turner 46), Rosenblatt (Caton 46).

STOCKPORT First-half Team (3-4-3): Addai; Knoyle, Horsfall, Connolly; Okeke, Bate, Trialist (A) (Camps, 20), Touray; Gardner, Wootton (Capt.), Diamond.

STOCKPORT Second-half Team (3-4-3): Metcalfe; Mann, Hughes, Pye; Okeke (Stretton, 63), Keane, C. Johnson, Bailey; Camps (H. Johnson, 77), Trialist (B), Fiorini.

Attendance: 1,265.

GUISELEY 0-7 HUDDERSFIELD

GUISELEY First Half Team: 1. Trialist A, 2. Lucas Odunston, 3. Reece Kendall, 4. Prince Ekpolo, 5. Trialist B, 6. Jake Lawlor (C), 7. Jordan Thewlis, 8. Adriano Moke, 9. Jake Wright, 10. Trialist C and 11. Trialist D.

GUISELEY Second Half Team: 1. Trialist A, 12. Kyle Burrows, 14. Trialist E, 15. Lebrun Mbeka, 16. Jameel Ible (C), 17. Foley Nkem, 18. Ollie Brown, 19. Will Longbottom, 20. Oliwier Grzelak, 21. Trialist F and 22. John Lufudu.

GUISELEY Sub not used: 13. Harry Churnin-Ritchie (GK)

HTAFC FIRST HALF XI – Maxwell; Sorensen, Spencer, Pearson, Ruffels, Hogg, Jackson, Iorpenda, Ward, Koroma, Thomas

HTAFC SECOND HALF XI – Chapman; Jones, Headley, Austerfield, Wiles, Kasumu, Helik, Turton, Balker, Healey, Radulovic

HTAFC UNUSED SUBSTITUTE – Lee Nicholls

GOALS – Iorpenda 3’, Koroma 30’, 45’, Healey 46’, Wiles 58‘, Radulovic 80‘, Turton 89’

CARDS – Pearson 40’

📝 Report from Town’s second pre-season outing at Nethermoor Park.#htafc

— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) July 6, 2024

MATLOCK 0-0 CHESTERFIELD (5-3p)

CHORLEY 2-0 BRADFORD CITY

DARTFORD 1-6 CHARLTON

OTHER RESULTS:

Brighton U21 (Eng) 3-0 Worthing (Eng)
Isle of Man (Eng) 3-1 Brackley Town (Eng)
Lancaster (Eng) 1-2 AFC Fylde (Eng)
Bishops Cleeve (Eng) 1-7 Cheltenham (Eng)
Bridgwater (Eng) 0-3 Taunton (Eng)
Cobham (Eng) 1-4 Farnborough (Eng)
Deeping (Eng) 0-4 King’s Lynn (Eng)
Westbury United (Eng) 6-1 Chippenham (Eng)
Aberystwyth (Wal) 0-1 Radcliffe (Eng)
Watford (Eng) 0-2 Reading (Eng)
West Didsbury & Chorlton (Eng) 2-1 Prescot (Eng)
Holker (Eng) 1-5 Barrow (Eng)
Holyport (Eng) 0-6 Maidenhead (Eng)
Alsager (Eng) 0-3 Congleton (Eng)
Bamber Bridge (Eng) 0-2 Fleetwood (Eng)
Bearsted (Eng) 1-4 Maidstone (Eng)
Bedworth United (Eng) 1-0 Nuneaton (Eng)
Bracknell (Eng) 3-3 Hemel Hempstead (Eng)
Bridlington (Eng) 0-2 Scarborough (Eng)
Chatham (Eng) 0-0 Grays (Eng)
Colne (Eng) 0-1 Altrincham (Eng)
Corinthian (Eng) 3-7 Tonbridge (Eng)
Dover (Eng) 2-1 Sevenoaks (Eng)
Farnham (Eng) 4-0 QPR U21 (Eng)
Glossop (Eng) 1-2 Prestwich Heys (Eng)
Highworth (Eng) 1-3 Chippenham (Eng)
Hinckley (Eng) 1-0 Tamworth (Eng)
Ilkeston (Eng) 1-3 Hallam (Eng)
Margate (Eng) 3-0 Whitstable Town (Eng)
Poole (Eng) 0-2 Dorking (Eng)
Sheppey United (Eng) 1-2 Folkestone (Eng)
Badshot (Eng) 3-4 Aldershot (Eng)
Buxton (Eng) 4-1 Ashton Utd (Eng)
Fairford (Eng) 4-3 Gloucester (Eng)
West Auckland (Eng) 4-2 Ashington (Eng)
Accrington (Eng) 1-2 Blackburn (Eng)
AFC Blackpool (Eng) 1-0 Blackpool (Eng)
Burscough (Eng) 1-1 Skelmersdale (Eng)
Evesham (Eng) 1-1 Stratford (Eng)
Faversham (Eng) 1-4 Sittingbourne (Eng)
Hartley Wintney (Eng) 1-0 Aylesbury Utd (Eng)
Haywards (Eng) 0-2 Eastbourne Boro (Eng)
Hebburn Town (Eng) 1-6 Dumbarton (Sco)
Hitchin (Eng) 0-1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds (Eng)
Kendal (Eng) 2-1 Morecambe (Eng)
Quorn (Eng) 2-1 Alvechurch (Eng)
Sheerwater (Eng) 2-3 Kingstonian (Eng)
Swindon S (Eng) 1-4 Swindon (Eng)
Walton & Hersham (Eng) 3-3 Wealdstone (Eng)
Westfields (Eng) 0-2 Hereford (Eng)
Bangor 1876 (Wal) 4-2 FC United (Eng)
Newcastle Benfield (Eng) 0-0 Ryton (Eng)
Oxford City (Eng) 9-0 Barry (Wal)

Barking 1-1 Park View
Cobham 1-4 Farnborough
Tadcaster Albion 1-2 Brighouse Town
AFC Portchester 8-0 Camberley Town
AFC Whyteleafe 2-2 Bromley
Abbey Hey 1-0 Maine Road
Abbey Hulton United 2-2 Nantwich Town
Albion Sports 4-2 Wakefield
Arlesey Town 2-0 Egham Town
Ascot United 2-3 Fleet Town
Ashford United 3-0 Erith & Belvedere
Ashfordby 0-3 Selston
Ashton Town 0-5 Widnes
Atherton Laburnum Rovers 0-1 Bury
Athletic Newham 3-0 FC Romania
Aylestone Park 0-4 Harborough Town
Bamber Bridge v Fleetwood Town
Bangor 1876 v FC United of Manchester
Basford United 3-1 Anstey Nomads
Beaconsfield Town 0-5 Bedford Town
Bearsted 1-4 Maidstone United
Bedfont Sports 1-1 Merstham
Birstall United 1-1 Newark and Sherwood United
Bitton 1-5 Clevedon Town
Bottesford Town 2-3 Brigg Town
Bournemouth 2-1 Sturminster Newton United
Bracknell Town 3-3 Hemel Hempstead
Brereton Social 0-2 Chasetown
Bridport 0-2 Portland United
Brightlingsea Regent 2-3 Hackney Wick
Broadfields United 3-0 Staines Lammas
Brockenhurst 0-4 New Milton Town
Burscough Richmond 2-4 Euxton Villa
Buxton 4-1 Ashton United
Cockfosters 1-0 Leverstock Green
Coleshill Town 7-1 Hednesford Town
Corinthian 3-7 Tonbridge Angels
Cowes Sports 1-3 Winchester City
Cranfield United 2-2 Potton United
Cray Wanderers 1-1 SE Dons
Dearne & District 1-6 Farsley Celtic
Devizes Town 0-1 Frome Town
Didcot Town 0-4 AFC Totton
Dunstable Town 0-4 Ardley United
Easington Sports 2-0 Clanfield 85
East Preston 0-6 AFC Croydon Athletic
East Thurrock Community FC 1-8 Canvey Island FC
Edgware & Kingsbury 2-1 Hendon
Ellesmere Port Town 2-2 Ruthin Town
Ellistown 1-4 Coalville Town
Ely City 0-3 Godmanchester Rovers (3pm)
Epsom & Ewell 1-2 Met Police
Erith Town 1-3 Raynes Park Vale
Evesham United 1-1 Stratford Town
Fairford Town 3-4 Gloucester City
FC Hartlepool 1-8 Hartlepool United XI
Fisher 2-2 Dulwich Hamlet
Flint Town 1-3 Wythenshawe Town
Framlingham Town 2-1 Sheringham
Glasshoughton Welfare 0-1 Pontefract Collieries
Glebe 1-0 Croydon
Goole AFC 1-2 Retford
Gornal 1-3 Dudley Athletic
Grantham Town 1-1 Sherwood Colliery
Hallen 2-6 Exmouth Town
Handsworth 3-2 Retford United
Harefield United 6-2 Shepherd’s Bush
Harlow Town 0-2 Buckhurst Hill
Harpenden Town 0-2 Potters Bar Town 1pm)
Hartley Wintney 1-0 Aylesbury United
Hayling United 4-0 Bosham
Baldock Town 2-1 Hertford Town
Hitchin Town 0-1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds
Highworth Town 1-3 Chippenham Town
Hinckley LRFC 1-0 Tamworth
Hythe & Dibden 2-1 East Cowes Victoria
Hucknall Town 2-5 Long Eaton United
Hyde United 3-2 Blackburn Rovers U21
Ilkley Town 0-4 Ossett United
Jersey Bulls XI 2-2 Manchester United Legends
Kenilworth Sporting 2-4 Nuneaton Griff
Kimberley Miners Welfare 3-2 West Brigford

Lancing 0-3 Leatherhead
Ledbury Town 0-0 Westfields
Leighton Town 0-1 Tring Athletic
Lichfield City 1-6 Hinckley
Liss Athletic 1-2 Midhurst & Easebourne
Little Oakley 1-1 Harwich
Llandudno 3-4 Trafford
Loughborough FC 0-5 Sileby Town
Loughborough Students 0-0 Lincoln United
Melton Town 2-2 Kettering Town
Merthyr Town 3-0 Carlton Town
Millbrook 8-2 Hamworthy United
Moneyfields 4-0 US Portsmouth
MSB Woolton 4-2 Runcorn Town
New Dales Vale 0-6 Worcester City
Newton Abbot Spurs 2-4 Plymstock United
Newquay 3-3 Ivybridge
Northallerton Town 2-1 Liversedge
Norton Canes 0-5 Bolehall Swifts
Old Altrinchamians 5-3 Barnton
Petersfield Town 3-4 Gosport Borough
Pelsall Villa 0-6 AFC Wulfrunians
Pickering Town 1-5 Billingham Synthonia
Pinchbeck United 1-2 Boston Town
Punjab United 2-4 Hythe Town
Quorn 2-1 Alvechurch
Reading City 1-1 Windsor & Eton
Risborough Rangers 1-2 Real Bedford
Rochester United 2-6 Rusthall
Roman Glass St George 6-1 Cribbs
Romsey Town 5-1 Laverstock & Ford
Route One Rovers 3-3 Padiham
Rugby Town 1-2 Newport Pagnell Town
Saltash United 0-4 Newport City
Sefton Athletic 1-3 AFC Liverpool
Sheerwater 2-3 Kingstonian
Shelford Town & Campton v Bigglewade Town
Skegness Town 5-0 Dunkirk
Soham Town Rangers 1-0 Yaxley
Southall 5-1 Northwood
South Liverpool 1-2 Ashville
Squires Gate 4-1 Northwich Victoria
Stansfeld 1-2 Faversham Strike Force
St Austell 3-1 Okehampton Argyle
St Neots Town 0-1 Biggleswade Town
Stansted 0-3 Witham Town
Stanway Pegasus 0-3 Hadleigh United
Steeton 0-3 Eccleshill United
Steyning Town 5-3 Loxwood
Stockport Georgians 6-1 Uppermill
Stockport Town 4-0 Denton Town
Stockwood Green 1-5 Hengrove Athletic
Sutton Coldfield Town 3-2 Romulus
Sutton United 1-5 Crystal Palace XI
Tadley Calleva 4-1 Thatcham Town
Avonmonth 2-0 Aek Boco
Teignmouth 0-3 Helston Athletic
Ilford 1-0 Tilbury
Thame United 3-2 Milton United
Tottington United 1-5 Barnoldswick Town
Uxbridge 2-2 Langley
Walton & Hersham 3-3 Wealdstone
Wantage Town 2-1 Kintbury Rangers
Ware 1-1 Waltham Abbey
Warrington Rylands 3-1 Cheadle Town
Wembley 3-3 Oxhey Jets
Whitby Town 3-1 Bishop Auckland
Whitton United 0-8 Enfield FC
Winsford United 0-1 Pilkington
Wokingham & Emmbrook 1-2 Marlow
Workington 4-0 Coppull United
Worksop Town 6-3 Barton Town
Wombourne Allstars 0-7 Darlaston Town
Yateley United 0-1 Guildford City