BRACKNELL Town were the winners, but even losing managers went home with a smile on their face, writes Dave Wright.

The four-team tournament at Larges Lane, held over two successive weekends, had certainly proved invaluable as far as preparations for the new soccer season were concerned.

As Wokingham & Emmbrook manager Dan Bateman said: “We used about 52 players over the four games – where else would you get the opportunity to look at so many players on a football pitch?”

And Binfield boss Roger Herridge (pictured) added: “It was a great opportunity to look at a lot of players. Over the first weekend we had around 40 different players, and we probably had almost as many this weekend including a few who had not played last week.”

Both considered the result of their games were of no importance, and even Mark Tallentire felt much the same despite Bracknell winning the ‘final’ 7-1 against Eversley & California with new signing Liam Ferdinand, Adam Cornell and Joe Grant all scoring twice, along with one from Jamie McClurg.

Robins were following up their 4-0 win over Binfield on Saturday when there was a guest appearance from Aaron Kuhl, the former Reading FC Under-21 skipper who was released by the Championship side last season. He opened the scoring with a header and helped set up two other goals.

Devonate Romeo scored twice, while Callum Whitty headed in a Kuhl corner.

Tallentire is hoping Romeo will put pen to paper this week.

Bracknell have another friendly game at Holyport tomorrow (Thursday, 7.45pm ko) and then host Basingstoke at Larges Lane on Saturday ( 3pm).

Whilst Tallentire is close to already knowing his strongest squad, Herridge and Bateman still appear to have a bit of tinkering to do in the next week or so.

Binfield have lost a number of key players, notably Ferdinand to Bracknell and Harrison Bayley to Thatcham, and promising young keeper Liam Vaughan has also decided to leave the club.

“He has gone to Basingstoke Under 21s,” Herridge confirmed, “I wish him well, but I am not sure if it is a forward move for him or a backwards one, though he may get a chance to sit on the bench for the first team.”

With Mo Nyamunga having also left for Combined Counties League side Badshot Lea, the Moles look set to start the season with two new keepers.

They have signed Sam Gray, previously with Maidenhead United’s trophy-winning Academy side, while young James Hillson has joined from Reading FC.

“He is full-time there and and they have sent him out to get some experience at this level of football,” said Herridge.

The Binfield manager revealed he is also hoping to bring in “one or two experienced” players in the next week or so.

In the meantime, young full-back George Lock has rejoined the club from Bracknell.

Herridge used around 40 players over the two weekends at Larges Lane, adding: “They called it a tournament, but at the end of the day we weren’t interested where we finished.

“It was all about a great opportunity of four games to look at a lot of players. There have been some real positives with a couple of players from our development side.

“Clive Akem-Che was sensational and Jamie McCarthy was equally as good.”

Akem-Che scored twice in the 4-2 win over Wokingham & Emmbrook on Sunday with the others coming from Ellis Wint and Sean Moore.

Herridge added: “At the moment I am quite happy with the mix we have and the signs are good at the moment. We are getting close to forming the first-team squad, but we play in a physical league and it is important we get the balance right.”

Herridge also has a new assistant manager in Paul Clayton, who has previously worked with Graham Malcolm at Hellenic League rivals Flackwell Heath. He has also been involved with Reading FC, Watford and Chelsea at Academy level.

The Moles play Camberley away in a friendly this Saturday.

Bateman, speaking after the completion of the Bracknell tournament, told the News: “I think we used 52 players over the four games.

“As we had to play Saturday and Sunday, we picked sides on availability. So Sunday I had one midfielder in my squad, whereas Saturday I had six. It meant a lot of round pegs in square holes, but it was about minutes on the pitch.

“We knew this tournament was going to be tough and it was a good test for us as this is the level where we want to be playing at.

“For three and a half games we did ourselves really proud, but let ourselves down for about 40 minutes, but that often happens in pre-season.

“Some of the young lads who played stepped up and new ones did really well. But it is all about building up towards our first league game on August 5.”

Bateman continued: “The competition in the squad is really good this year; we look to have two or three players in every position and people are pushing each other.

“Some players who played a lot in the last two or three season might find themselves starting on the bench or even in the reserves. It’s that sort of competition for places we need.”

The Sumas continue their pre-season programme with a trip to Chalvey Sports this Saturday afternoon.