Windsor & Eton continue preparations with friendly defeat to Sandhurst

Photo credit: Paul Smithson

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Windsor & Eton christened Bracknell Town’s new artificial surface at Bottom Meadow on Tuesday evening, but things didn't go exactly to plan as Matt Angell's side conceded two own goals in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Sandhurst Town.

The Royalists performed creditably well against opposition who be playing two levels above them this season, and they weren't helped by two unfortunate goals which gave Sandhurst a stranglehold on the game.

Having claimed their first win of pre-season with a 3-2 victory over Addlestone FC on Saturday, this was a more stringent test for Windsor, who fell behind in the early stages when Ben King inadvertently headed the ball into his own net after a miscommunication with his goalkeeper.

Angell's side responded well to the setback however and might have levelled before a second moment of misfortune just before the hour mark when Kai Boyland rose to clear a corner only to misdirect his header onto the crossbar and into the net. Two goals then became three when a sharp move saw Amari Fashanu fire the Fizzers 3-0 ahead.

The Royalists posed problems for Sandhurst all evening, and they were rewarded for their efforts when Gabra Welding turned home a cross after 70 minutes to make it 3-1.

Angell tweeted: “Pleased with last night’s performance against a very good Sandhurst Town side. (We have) a lot of good young talent to work with at Windsor & Eton and I’m looking forward to seeing where we can take this group of players.”

The side have three more pre-season games pencilled in against Woodcote on Saturday, Penn & Tylers Green on July 25 and Royal Holloway on August 1.

The club are also still waiting for the Thames Valley Premier Division fixtures to be released.