St Albans City squelched their way through the first friendly of the summer on Saturday when going down 3-1 in an enjoyable encounter with the Belarus Olympic squad in a private match at the Five Lakes Hotel resort in Maldon, Essex.

The Five Lakes certainly lived up to its name as steady rain added to an already sodden surface in this wettest of ‘drought’ summers.

Belarus arrived at the resort earlier in the week to begin preparations for their first major tournament, the Olympics, since gaining independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The tourists showed themselves to be a decent passing side that move forward at pace and one that is capable of creating chances almost at will.

Their only failings came in front of goal where their accuracy in shooting was woeful and skill in breaking down an offside trap non-existent, something that led to an astonishing five goals being disallowed.

City, fielding a different XI for each half, defended stoutly during the opening 45 minutes and competed well throughout the side.

Their movement when moving forward also bodes well for the forthcoming campaign although making predictions at such an early stage of their preparations would be foolhardy.

St Albans strongest XI was the group that began the match with eight of last season’s squad forming the backbone of the side including Chris Seeby at right back for the first time since sustaining a fractured cheekbone back in March.

Making a return to the City side after a year away from Clarence Park was the 2010-11 Player of the Year Adam Everitt, who joined skipper James Gray in the heart of the defence and displayed all the battling qualities that made him such a popular figure during his first spell with the club.

Everitt has not had his contract renewed by Conference South side Staines Town and rejoining the Saints in one of several options open to the 30-year-old defender.

On the left of the midfielder the experienced former Dartford and Eastleigh, amongst others, winger Richard Graham made his first appearance in a City shirt while striker Lewis Toomey had his first run up front since signing during the close season from neighbours Hemel Hempstead Town.

The Saints led at the interval courtesy of an early Simon Martin goal and a quite superb save by keeper Nick Jupp midway through the half.

After the break Belarus pressed forward even more forcibly but chances continued to go begging before they finally found their shooting boots to put three goals past trialist 20-year-old City keeper Alex Tokarczyk, formerly of Farnborough and Hayes & Yeading United.

The Belarus scorers were Andrei Voronkov with a brace, one a penalty, and Sergi Politevich.

City’s second half side featured seven new faces plus substitute Matt McEntagart who was previously with Hemel Hempstead Town.

Amongst the other new players hoping to impress City boss David Howell were Quincey Rowe (Harrow Borough), Mark E’Beyer (Wealdstone and Cambridge City) and Danny Spendlove (Tottenham Hotspur junior, Ware, Wealdstone and Cambridge City).

St Albans City (1st half): N.Jupp, C.Seeby, R.Watts, D.Ijaha, J.Gray, A.Everitt, Se.Shields, M.Hyde, L.Toomey, S.Martin, R.Graham.

St Albans City (2nd half): A.Tokarczyk, A. Blackwood, N.Bernard, O.Cleva, Q.Rowe, M.Diarra, C.Henry M.McEntagart), M.E’Beyer, J.Constant, E.Adjei, D.Spendlove.

Referee: Fred Graham (Stanford-Le-Hope).