Crewe Reserves next up for Central in pre-season

Fixtures are coming thick and fast for Manchester Central in their 2023 pre-season campaign as they welcome Crewe FC Reserves to Manchester Academy on Wednesday evening.

Central gaffer Chris Tomkinson was once again provided with another good display in what has been an impressive pre-season up to this point, with Central most recently dispatching Sale Amateurs 2-0 at Seashell Trust.

The result was secured courtesy of Thi-Reece Lenihan, who sent Central into the half-time break a goal to the good, whilst Dimitri Kemayou sealed the win in the final minutes with a powerfully driven effort.

The standout however was certainly the new man between the sticks, Aaron Stockton, who earned the man of the match award after making several key stops in each half, proving to Tomkinson that he was the right addition in goal.

Central will now face Crewe Reserves who will play in Reserve League 1 of the Cheshire Football League in the upcoming season, and who will be sure to provide another challenge for Central.

The visitors secured an impressive third placed finish last season, trailing by just seven points off the eventual champions, Middlewich Town Reserves, in a tight top four in particular.

The leading four sides were separated by just 11 points, whilst Crewe were impressive at home last season, winning 10 of their 12 fixtures at the Cumberland Arena, a record which was only bested by Broadheath Central Reserves who finished just two points ahead of them in the standings.

Crewe will be the next high scoring side that Central will face in pre-season, scoring a mighty 67 times in 2022/23, which would have been well clear of the next best side if it wasn’t for Middlewich’ ridiculous 87 goal tally.

The Reserve League side also put on display supreme consistency, particularly in the middle part of the campaign, in which Crewe went on a 12-game unbeaten run, netting a ruthless 38 times in that period, led by three individuals who hit double digits across the season.

Nathan Southern led the way, bagging 18 goals in 19 fixtures, whilst Ryan Moss (11) and Danny Lavalette (10) combined for 21 across the campaign, rounding off a formidable frontline that Central will have to contend with on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Central have shored up defensively so far in pre-season, conceding on average just over a goal per game (1.2), where in Division One last campaign Tomkinson’s side conceded almost twice per game (1.96), giving encouraging signs that Central can be a more compact and solid side when under pressure.

No doubt if Stockton’s recent performance is anything to go by, he will be a crucial piece of that part of the pitch, claiming Central’s first clean sheet of pre-season on Saturday will certainly boost confidence ahead of the new season.

And whilst historically Central have not struggled in front of goal, last season produced an issue on that front, especially during Central’s run of games where they went without a point or goal in four consecutive Division One games.

A monstrous tally of 96 goals in their promotion clinching Division Two campaign in the 2021/22 season seems like a lifetime ago now, a tally which dropped down to just 55 last season where confidence in front of goal was clearly lacking, however, 15 goals in their five pre-season fixtures so far looks to have brought back that clinical edge.

Tomkinson will now be looking to ramp up the pressure on his players as their preparations are getting nearer to the end, and he will want his side to be at optimal levels once the first whistle blows for Division One football.

However, this will be a slightly different pre-season fixture for Tomkinson's men, having already confirmed that the match against Crewe will provide an opportunity for trialists and those who haven't had much of a chance to prove themselves to prove just that.

The next fixture will now be the most important for Central, who will constantly be looking for the small details that will improve on their already impressive performances.

The ball will get rolling at 8:00pm on Wednesday 26th July at The Manchester Academy