Eight is great for town as Griff beaten for first pre-season win - Match report: Nuneaton Town 8 Nuneaton Griff 1

Match report by Matt Jones

Nuneaton Town 8-1 Nuneaton Griff
(Jardine 3, 15, 56, Spruce 26, Thomas 52, Marsden 64, Hesson 67, Somel 72 : Kavanagh 46)

Att: 232

Nuneaton Town played their first 'home' game of pre-season on Tuesday night at home to neighbours and another of last season's opponents Nuneaton Griff.

Callum Carsley was making his first start of pre-season, having missed the 3 defeats in the last week and a half, and the difference was immediate as from Town's first corner, he found the head of Kyle Jardine for his first goal in Town colours after just 3 minutes (1-0).

Town's early pressure kept telling on Griff and on 6 minutes Jardine provided a lay off to the advancing James Harrison, who curled over the bar.

With 8 gone, Bache came for a cross into the box from Griff, but dropped the ball under pressure, but with enough men back for Town, Griff were unable to find the net.

On the quarter hour Harrison had another effort inside the box which was pushed wide by the keeper. From the resulting corner Aaron Williams' bullet header was blocked on the line, but fell straight to Jardine who's first time touch was blocked from behind the line and the goal was given (2-0).

Two minutes after the goal it was Carsley's turn to have an effort from a Jardine lay off but was unable to find the target.

On 26 minutes Jardine himself got a Griff defender one on one and although his effort was blocked, the follow up from James Spruce was placed right into the corner for Town's third (3-0).

The remainder of the half was a little quieter, bar an attempted lob from half way by Declan Somel on 37 minutes, and both Perkins and Jardine hitting the woodwork.

Half time: Nuneaton Town 3-0 Nuneaton Griff

Griff started the second half with the next goal, as barely a minute in Kavanagh's shot was saved by Bache, but the ball looped up and over him and bounced over the line (3-1).

Jardine should have completed his hattrick on 50 minutes as he broke the offside trap but squared to Spruce who's shot was blocked.

It did become four just two minutes later though as Kai Thomas picked up the ball just outside the box and with a bit of space around him lashed the ball past the keeper and into the net (4-1).

That goal gave Town renewed confidence and they suddenly wanted to increase the lead quickly. Jardine cut inside and had a shot saved on 54 minutes, before finally completing his hattrick on 56 minutes, heading in from Carsley's cross (5-1).

The front 3 for Town were then changed as Dante Hesson, Justin Marsden and a trialist came on for Jardine, Spruce and Harrison, but it made little difference to Town's dominance as they kept racking up the goals. Marsden showed his experience as he made a great run into the box to get on the end of an equally great Carsley low cross to turn it home on 64 minutes (6-1).

Hesson got on the scoresheet just 3 minutes later as a cross from Thomas on the right was turned into the corner on the volley (7-1), and still with 18 minutes left of normal time he made the cheekiest of backheels in the box to set up Declan Somel to tap home (8-1).

Town gave some more trialists some minutes including a goalkeeper, and he managed to make some decent saves as Griff capitalised on a little bit of an ease off from Town. There was still time for some efforts from the left winger trialist on 80 minutes which was held by the keeper, Hesson to skew a shot wide on 87 minutes when through one on one, and new signing Charlie Jones to head over on 88 minutes.

In truth, Griff will play better this season, but Town will hope the ruthlessness with which they took apart their near neighbours will continue into the remaining friendlies and into the new season.

Full time: Nuneaton Town 8-1 Nuneaton Griff

Team: Bache (trialist 74), Thomas, Recci, Perkins (trialist 64), Carsley, Currithers (Jones 45), Somel, Williams, Spruce (Hesson 60), Harrison (trialist 60), Jardine (Marsden 60)

Subs: Jones, trialist, trialist, Marsden, Hesson, trialist