PICTURE: Pinnacle
Sparta Prague B: 2
England C: 2
MATTY TAYLOR bagged a double as England C drew with Sparta Prague B and gave boss Paul Fairclough plenty to think about before Saturday’s International Challenge Trophy group opener in Slovakia.
The game was a behind-closed-doors training match. Most of the 18-man squad haven’t played since the last game of the Conference season on April 26 so it was an ideal workout to get match fitness back in the legs.
And Fairclough was happy with what he saw.
He said: “It was key for us to get out early, get some training in and use this game against Sparta for more fitness and to bed in a shape.
“I have to say I was delighted. We changed the shape in the last third of the game to a 4-4-2 from a 4-3-3 and there is lots of food for thought going into the big game against Slovakia.
“There were some solid, solid performances out there. Some surprises too. Matty Taylor came in on a late call and popped in two goals so he’s done himself no harm at all.
“Today has served its purpose. It’s given the lads confidence they can go for a full 90 after finishing the season, but also to play the way we did against very technical, good players.”
Taylor was a late call-up to the squad following the withdrawal of Louis Moult through injury.
The Forest Green Rovers striker would have made his debut more than 18 months ago in Albania, only for a torrential downpour before kick-off to wash the game off.
While this wasn’t treated as a full friendly international and no caps are officially awarded, the former North Leigh man wasted no time in making his mark.
With just 12 minutes on the clock he found space in the box and headed home Keanu Marsh-Brown’s pinpoint cross.
The game, at Sparta Prague’s training centre, was broken down into three periods of 30 minutes. Fairclough wanted to give each of his squad 60 minutes – although James Norwood was forced to sit out after picking up a leg strain in training.
It had been an encouraging start from England, but Sparta hit back three minutes after Taylor’s opener through Lukas Moravec.
Play-off finalists James Marwood – celebrating his 24th birthday – and Marcus Maddison got their first taste of the action after the first period.
Marwood forced an early save from a free-kick before Maddison’s long run was ended by a defender’s hack. From the free-kick Taylor got his second. This time slamming home a rebound after Matty Pearson’s header from Maddison’s delivery was saved.
And it looked like England were going to hold on for the win until a defensive slip allowed Alexander Jakubov to level with six minutes remaining after some quick feet in the box.
“You make errors in football matches, it’s all part of the process,” Fairclough said. “We had players out of position to ensure everyone got 60 minutes but it was a very enjoyable afternoon’s work.”
England C leave Prague tomorrow morning to head for their Poprad base.
Saturday’s game kicks-off at 2pm GMT.
England C: Walker; Yiadom, Roberts, Franks, Demetriou, Pearson, Payne, Bradley, Marsh-Brown, Taylor, Frear, Gallagher, Marwood, Maddison, Fitzpatrick, MacDonald, Norwood, Coughlin
