Waltham Forest secured 2-1 victory in what was a fairly untidy friendly with London Bari.
Pre-season friendlies are often especially stop-start affairs, but Forest made 10 changes at half time, while Bari made at least 4 in the first half, and a further 10 at half time.
Forest dominated the opening play, with Chris Taylor and Luke Stanley both going close – the latter’s free kick only just being tipped over the bar by the Bari ‘keeper.
From the result corner, Forest struck the first blow, with Ricardo Ponton heading in at the near post.
Forest continued to dominate, though Bari should have levelled when their forward inexplicably decided to pass the ball rather than shoot with an open goal in front of him.
Early in the second half, Bari equalized. A long ball from midfield was met by the away forward whose looping header found the top corner of the net.
Forest’s finishing will have to improve by the time the season starts, as they squandered a number of good chances, before eventually grabbing the winner just before the final whistle.
Next up for Forest are FC Romania, this Thursday, again at Ashton Playing Fields.