The first ball of this summer’s Ashes Series has yet to be bowled yet a ball more associated to the winter months was kicked around Clarence Park on Monday evening, as St Albans City began their preparations for the forthcoming season with a comprehensive 4-0 defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge.

The League Two side, managed by Wayne Burnett – who scored two spectacular goals in his one friendly appearance for the Saints 12 years ago – were two goals to the good inside ten minutes and, effectively, took what little competitive edge there was to the game out of it almost as soon as proceedings got underway.

The Daggers fielded a decent starting XI that included second choice keeper Liam O’Brien and three trialists, while the rest of the first half line-up are likely to be challenging to be the backbone of the side over the coming months.

One of the second half trialists for the visitors was the controversial Aryan Tajbakhsh who left St Albans under bit a cloud a couple of seasons ago, and then found himself in hot water with the F.A. last season whilst playing for Enfield Town.

Striker Ashley Chambers, fed straight through the middle of the home defence, by Ashley Hemmings, opened the scoring on three minutes when firing low and wide of City keeper Joe Welch.

Welch did well to keep out efforts by Christian Doidge and Alex Lacey but was picking the ball out of the Hatfield Road net for a second time on ten minutes after a fine glancing header by Doidge sent Chambers clear for his second goal.

City rallied briefly before the interval with 22-year-old former Hemel Hempstead midfielder Luke Allen testing O’Brien from a free kick, while Danny Green fired a shot across the face of the goal.

The second half, which saw both sides completely change their line-ups, contained little to hold the interest of the sparse crowd, although a few somewhat overly robust challenges kept the players on their toes.

A mistimed tackle by City’s central defender David Longe-King sent Daggers trialist Bayan Fenwick crashing to the ground on 68 minutes, and the former Crystal Palace player took his revenge by converting the resulting penalty.

The scoring was completed five minutes from time when Jack Connors sent a powerful drive past Welch from the edge of the York Road penalty area.

Eleven members of City’s squad from last season were given a run out while new signing Lewis Hilliard turned out having only arrived back in the country from holiday earlier in the day.

The former St Neots Town player was sporting a toe injury, sustained when banging his foot against a rock whilst on holiday, which did appear to hamper his movement.

Fellow new signing Billy Medlock, signed from Sutton United but resident in Brighton, showed up reasonable well in attack alongside Simon Thomas.

Medlock was given quite a rough ride at times but displayed commendable spirit and looks as though he could be a particularly useful addition.

City’s third new signing, Jack Lampe, brought in from Concord Rangers, missed the game through illness but could be in contention for next Tuesday’s home game against Barnet.

City joint-manager James Gray was none too concerned about the final score, speaking after the game he said.

“Fitness is all what it is about at this point, the order of the day is to be ready for Gosport Borough on the 8th August.”

“The result is immaterial but we saw enough and learnt a little bit. The biggest thing that I take out of this is the sharpness of mind, we need to get our brains switched on a little bit quicker. It will come on over the next few games.”

Gray stated at the end of last season that he wanted to play influential midfielder James Comley in the middle of the back four this coming season, and that is where the England C and Montserrat international played on Monday.

“There was a little bit of indecision at the back between Lockey (Darren Locke) and Coms (Comley) early on but these things are going to happen and there will be more mistakes between now and the start of the season.”

“I’ve highlighted to the players some of the things we want to get better at, hopefully we can put more things right against Watford on Wednesday.”

Gray also confirmed that 17-year-old midfield Jack Green has committed his future to the club with the full details to be announced imminently.

“Jack Green has re-signed, there will be something coming out in the press later this week. He has been at every training session and now he’s away on a three-week lads holiday. Hopefully he’ll enjoy himself but we’ve managed to tie him down and I’m over the moon about it. He’s another good addition towards the squad.”

Wednesday’s (8th July) meeting with Watford at Clarence Park has a 7.45pm kick off.

St Albans City (starting XI): J.Welch, H.Hall, J.Kyriacou, O.Beckles, J.Comley, D.Locke, S.Wales, L.Allen, S.Thomas, B.Medlock, D.Green, subs used: L.Chappell, M.Richens, G.Ngoyi, L.Hilliard, M.Malcolm, D.Longe-King, K.Bishop, R.Young (plus two unknown).

Dagenham & Redbridge (starting XI): L.O’Brien, J.Connors, N.Nosworthy, F.Raymond, A.Hemmings, J.Jones, A.Chambers, C.Doidge, M.Robinson, J.Passley, A.Lacey.