St Albans City concluded their run of pre-season matches on Tuesday night with an experimental side going down 2-1 to Bedford Town at The Eyrie.

After a shaky start there were several bonuses to come out of the game even if the result was not to City’s liking.

Most pleasing for assistant manager Mark Peters was to see his senior players Jonathan Hunt, Daniel Chillingworth and James Quilter all come through for the full 90 minutes, while Luke Thurlbourne played for the opening half.

Two players not previously seen this summer were also given a run out. Goalkeeper Michael Emery, who was with Rushden & Diamonds last season and has also attended Paul Bastock’s coaching school in Boston, gave a competent and commanding display between the sticks.

The other new face was that of substitute Liam Hook who left Nottingham Forest at the end of last season having worked his way through the ranks during seven years at the City Ground. Hook replaced Thurlbourne during the interval and six minutes later made his mark with a well placed strike putting City level.

With Hunt and Solomon Shields expected to sign Conference South forms prior to Saturday’s opening league fixture at Dorchester Town, one can be fairly confident of picking a side that matches Steve Castle’s selection for the long trek towards the south west.

The biggest question mark though, hangs over the attack and 27-year-old Chillingworth certainly did his prospects no harm of forcing his way into the starting XI.

But the player to make the biggest splash was 17-year-old Jonathan ‘JJ’ O’Donnell. The former Watford youngster possesses a glorious touch, a sharp eye and is a clean striker of the ball. Diminutive he may be but he looks to be a talent waiting to take Conference South by storm.

But O’Donnell’s first contribution to Tuesday’s encounter was almost his last as inside three minutes he laid out Bedford’s Jonathan Woolf with a two-footed lunge that, at best, was ugly.

The Eagles dominated the early play but clear shots on Emery’s goal were limited although veteran former Boston United striker Tony Battersby was proving a handful.

After surviving early Bedford pressure City squandered two chances to open the scoring when Ryan Baronet and then Hunt scooped the ball over the target from close in following crosses from Jordan Lock and Craig Mortimer.

O’Donnell demonstrated his undoubted talent when whipping the ball away from long serving Eagles skipper Eddie Lawley and sending a beautifully placed effort from 25 yards just under the crossbar that retreating keeper Mike Armitt did well to tip over.

A quickly taken free kick by Aaran Cavill set up Dan Walker for a powerful drive that Emery took cleanly but the keeper was helpless on 37 minutes when Craig Daniel smartly swept home the opening goal after Callum Lewis split the City defence with a superb low through ball.

Walker almost added a second on 50 minutes with a lob over Emery that also cleared the visitors goal, just a minute later and City were level.

Jamie Thurlbourne, who saw a lot of the ball particularly during the second half, chipped a pass into the penalty area where Chillingworth battled for possession but could only look on as it ran free for the advancing Hook to arrow a perfect finish to the left of Armitt.

But City were on level terms for just two minutes until Cavill and Walker linked up once more and this time Walker took advantage of a slip by Quilter to burst into the penalty area and slid the winner past Emery.

Although City pressed hard to draw level the closest they came was a blocked effort at the back post by Hunt and deflected low drive from Lock that Armitt parried then gathered.

Bedford Town: M.Armitt, G.Clark (J.Cole 58), E.Lawley, C.Lewis (P.Tocco 66), J.Darby, S.Wall, C.Daniel (L.McBride 80), A.Cavill, T.Battersby (J.Draycott 58), D.Walker (T.Dowsing 75), J.Woolf.

St Albans City: M.Emery, J.Lock, J.Thurlbourne, L.Thurlbourne (L.Hook 46), J.Quilter, J.Barnes, C.Mortimer (G.Poku 75), J.O’Donnell, D.Chillingworth, R.Baronet (P.Kane 64), J.Hunt, sub; C.Baker.

Goals: 1-0 Daniel 37; 1-1 Hook 51; 2-1 Walker 53.

Referee: T.Donnellan.

Att: 128.