By Matt Cecil
Peter Taylor was a happy man after seeing his squad put in an encouraging shift in Saturday's 1-0 friendly win against AFC Wimbledon, and revealed that he would be pleased to return to the Kingston club every year.
Last season's top scorer Matt Harrold made the difference against the Blue Square Premier side with his second-half strike, and capped an enjoyable day for the Wanderers manager:
"It was a very good friendly on a good pitch and hopefully we could do it every year," Taylor told
wwfc.com. "I thought it was a bit too early to be playing a team with the strength of AFC Wimbledon, but when we got the offer to play here we knew it would be a good game with a big gate and I'm pleased we said 'yes'."
It had been ten weeks since the Blues were last in action but they showed no signs of rustiness with a composed and professional performance, due in no small part to the excellent fitness levels in the squad:
"I'm very very pleased with their fitness," Taylor enthused. "They had a programme over summer and took to it really well, and Damien (Doyle) is delighted with their fitness levels.
"I saw some very good things today and also a few frustrating things but that's what friendlies are for, and I told them they've done very well today and hopefully it will be the first of many wins."
Wanderers' supporters will undoubtedly be interested in the futures of the five trialists on show, with Carl Cort, Ian Westlake and Calum Willock amongst those on show, and they won't have to wait long for a decision from the 'gaffer':
"They've done well and I'm going to have to think about things and talk about it, but I can't sign everyone because we'd have too many players.
"I won't be taking them to Devon (for the Errea Challenge Cup starting on Monday) because I'm not sure it would be fair on them. If i said 'no' at the end of it, they'd be a week behind finding somewhere else, so I'll speak to them on Sunday and make a decision. It's not an easy one."
The two defensive trialists, whose identities were undisclosed, will not be continuing their stay at Adams Park and featured on Saturday only as a favour to Peter Taylor following slight injury niggles suffered by Craig Woodman and Chris Westwood, both of whom are expected to be fit in time for the Devon tournament.
Coming soon: More thoughts from the Blues squad regarding the captaincy debate, and a look ahead to the trip to the south-west for the Errea Challenge Cup.
