Northwich manager Andy Preece learns lessons from friendly reverse (From Northwich Guardian)

Northwich manager Andy Preece learns lessons from friendly reverse

9:36am Wednesday 21st July 2010

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ANDY Preece admitted he had learned what he needed to after Northwich Victoria’s five-goals friendly defeat against neighbours Stockport County.

The Vics boss made up his mind on a number of triallists after the 5-0 reverse too.

“To be honest this is what I thought would happen in the first two games,” he said, referring to a slender defeat against Falkirk and Saturday’s draw at Morecambe.

“The lads have done unbelievably well, far surpassing what I thought they would do, but tonight’s game was more what I expected.

“We’ve not got carried away by the results so far because pre-season results mean so little; you have to look deeper than that.

“It’s a fact that we’re short of being a competitive Evo-Stik Premier Division team right now.”

County, playing their first pre-season friendly under the stewardship of new manager Paul Simpson, scored twice in the first ten minutes through captain Danny Swailes and David Poole.

Greg Tansey’s penalty made it 3-0 at the break.

“It just shows how far we are away from getting anywhere near a squad,” added Preece.

“But I’d like to see us now against a side from a level similar to ours.

“The biggest benefit against a better class of opponent has been in terms of the players’ fitness but I need to find out different things from another type of test.”

He still has a month to do that.

And Preece is conscious he has time yet.

“I think I’ve been able to make choices about the ones that aren’t good enough,” he said.

“I needed to trim the group down and I’m able to do that after watching tonight’s game.

“I know it’s going to be very difficult to have the team I want together in time for the first league game [at Retford on Saturday, August 21].

“My expectations have to reflect that when you consider how many players we need to sign, how much money I have to do that and who we are up against.

“That’s where we’re at and I’m under no illusions.”

Vics’ next friendly is at Vodkat North West Counties League Premier Division outfit Bacup Borough on Tuesday.

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