Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday 6th July 2024
Exactly 18 months ago, Worksop Town’s goalscoring trialist in this game made his comeback from a serious injury and put in an impressive performance which I’ll always remember.
Although I didn’t end up doing a blog on that particular day (my bad), it’s one of the best performances I’ve seen from an individual player in the 400 or so games that I’ve watched in the past three years.
All his best qualities were on show that afternoon; he was committed, he was aggressive, he was tenacious, he had a zip, sharpness and energy to bomb up and down the left flank and cause problems. There was an undertone of pure fearlessness and courage in his mindset and how he set about things, he even nearly scored too and it was such an impressive performance - his quality was evident and it’s exactly the kind that you remember and admire. You wouldn’t have thought for one second he’d been out for so long.
Fast-forward 18 months, a couple of loans, plenty of conversations, a few hurdles that have had to be overcome, and lots of backing and believing in this player so much, and this might just be my new all-time favourite performance by ‘The Trialist’ who, editing this piece on 13th July, I can now say is Charlie Winfield.
It repaid all my faith because he scored a ‘hat-trick of sorts’ from LWB on his first game in a while and impressed the Worksop fans so much they were raving about him in the stands - even more so once they found out his name was Charlie (‘Go On Charlie’, ‘Well Done Charlie’, ‘You’re Good Charlie’) and he produced another impressive display where all his best qualities were on show.
It’s exactly what he can do. Exactly why I’ve backed him, supported him throughout the whole process and won’t ever stop believing in the ability he’s got and I’m absolutely buzzing that I was there to witness this game. One of the best feelings you can experience as a mate.
Chaz wasn’t the only familiar face on show from 'The Trialist Family' because there were a couple more involved for Worksop - one at CDM/CB in the second half who is looking every bit a solid option as he’s done the important bit of getting men’s games under his belt over the past few years - and his physical stature stands out nowadays. Plus another trialist who played at LWB in the first half, apparently did alright on Tuesday’s pre-season opener at Retford United according to many in the ground, and also featured in one of the all-time most infamous games in the EFL in the past couple of years.
And there was another point of interest for me in this game as Dan Bramall was involved.
Yet another player I’ve admired for a long time - probably back to when he was at Barnsley followed by Ballymena (where he was once on the receiving end of a nasty tackle that put him in hospital for the night and had the manager’s missus looking after him), and he’s someone who once scored in a Merseyside Derby when he was playing for Everton’s Youth Team too. Not many can say that. And although his end product left a lot to be desired in his 45 minutes on the pitch in this game (one of those kinda days for him), he’s got talent, got flair, can glide past players as he did a couple of times, all the ability is there and when it does click and unlocks for him at some point - which I’ve no doubt it will, he’ll be absolutely class to watch and will single-handedly win Worksop several points.
Moving on from individuals and onto the bigger picture - you can’t read too much into this result (or any pre-season result for that matter) because although fans get excited at this time of year, pre-season is all about experimenting, fitness, players getting minutes and building themselves back into the football routine, plus making mistakes and learning without the major repercussions that you’d get once the season started, but it felt good to be back watching live football again.
Both Worksop and Barton fielded a separate team in each half with ‘Roll On, Roll Off’ subs in the latter stages to re-introduce some of those who’d already featured earlier on, so it was very much the proverbial game of two completely separate halves. Even in different kits from Worksop’s perspective as well.
In the first 45 minutes, the Tigers were the better team and the gulf in quality was evident - they had more possession, more territory and certainly more chances but were largely frustrated and credit has to go to Barton for how they set up because they were organised, resolute, gave a decent account of themselves up to half-time with their application and how they got stuck in. They certainly weren’t there to just get ‘popped’ and they made it a good game before the floodgates opened after half-time once a more ‘youthful’ team was on the pitch. Nothing for the visitors to be ashamed about at all because the tough/difficult experiences is where you do the most learning anyway.
It was Barton who took the lead after around 20 minutes when a cross from the left after a quick-throw dropped for Ali Aydemir to finish - and although Worksop threatened an equaliser a few times; either Aleks Starcenko or Vaughan Redford (can’t remember who) having a shot parried away, Luke Shiels heading one narrowly over and then Starcenko hitting the post before Dan Bramall was twice denied on the follow-up, they had to wait until five minutes before the break to make it 1-1 when Starcenko slammed the ball home from the edge of the box, via the underside of the bar.
Wholesale changes by both teams then occurred at half-time with the introduction of ‘Charlie The Trialist’ and his mate at the back wearing the No.11 shirt for probably the first time ever in his career (not sure what that was all about), plus plenty of experienced heads for Worksop such as Junior Daniel, Jordan Burrow and Terry Hawkridge.
And it was that ‘experience’ in comparison to Barton’s changes which were primarily younger lads - that paved the way for the floodgates to eventually open as they did.
Unsurprisingly considering the two-league difference between the teams, Worksop stayed on top and on 53 minutes, the Tigers finally took the lead for the first time in the afternoon with Terry Hawkridge claiming the goal - and it then quickly looked as if it could get worse for Barton who were only kept at one goal behind thanks to a fantastic save from the ‘keeper who kept out a stinging 30-yard half-volley, before one got scrambled off the line a couple of minutes later.
Things can sometimes change quickly though and at this point, step-forward Charlie Winfield who scored one of the most bizarre own goals you’ll ever see on the hour mark to put Barton level at 2-2 with a routine back-pass to Seb Mialkowski who’d come off his line to claim it. A mix-up, misunderstanding and miscommunication between the pair, it happens, and the result was the ball ended up trickling over the goal-line and into the net.
At this point I was thinking ‘Oh F**k’ because scoring an own goal in a trial game isn’t the greatest of impressions you can make but I shouldn’t have worried because 10 minutes later, Charlie Winfield popped up at the other end to make it 3-2 when he got into the perfect position inside the box and cushioned a half-volley on his RIGHT foot into the top corner. Top finish. Superb technique and buzzing about that one!
And if that wasn’t enough, after Jordan Burrow made it 4-2 by pouncing at the far-post when Barton’s sub ‘keeper wasn’t quite able to keep hold of a header, Charlie Winfield then showcased his attacking capabilities once again to complete his imperfect ‘hat-trick’ with a more orthodox left-foot finish where he got into the box and smashed the ball emphatically past the ‘keeper - a type of finish I’ve seen him produce in the past and it raised an even bigger smile given the circumstances.
Needless to say, the Worksop fans were quite impressed.
As the heavens decided to open and everyone got soaked, there were still time for two more goals because Aaron Martin then made it 6-2 by firing a shot under the ‘keeper, before Barton pulled one back with what was pretty much the last kick of the game through Will Waudby.
I was confused at this stage as the big screen had the score up at 7-2 for a good few minutes - was there a phantom goal somewhere that I’d missed? Had VAR (or something) found its way to North Nottinghamshire to f**k about with things? Nope. Eventually it dropped back to ‘just’ the six goals and I didn’t need to rack my brains anymore about what I might have missed.
Overall, a good day and one which I’ll remember thanks to ‘Charlie The Trialist’ - you showed exactly what you can do and whatever happens in your career mate, you already know you’ve got my support for the long haul and it’s an absolute pleasure to see you playing again.
But rest assured I’ll be giving you plenty of grief about that own goal for a long time to come!
Onto the next one.
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