Fleet Town 2-2 Fleet Spurs

Match Report by Steve Cantle

New-look Fleet Town could so easily have run away with this local derby, but each time were let down by either poor finishing or some great goal-keeping. In the end a draw was just reward for a Spurs side that scored from the two chances they created and for keeper Paul Filkins, whose acrobatics helped keep Fleet's strikers at bay on more than one occasion.

The highlight for Fleet Town supporters was the continued form of veteran striker, Mark Frampton, who once again showed his class with two well-taken goals. Most of the talk around Calthorpe Park these days centres on Frampton's return to form in the pre-season games. Missing the first two matches, Frampton, now 35, came in for the Whitchurch game, scored two and has gone on to score in every game since ­ a total of seven goals from 5 starts.

His header against Woking was one of the best goals seen at Calthorpe Park for many a season. Now in his 12th season with the Fleet club, a lean-looking, in-form Frampton will be an invaluable asset for his new manager, Mick Catlin this season.

For Catlin, Saturday's game was his final chance to judge the progress of his younger players before the season kicks-off next Saturday. The new manager will have some tough decisions to make as he trims down his squad for Saturday's opener against Tonbridge Angels at Calthorpe Park. It will be a tough match for the Fleet side, which then has two difficult away games at Newport IOW and Kings Lynn.

But Catlin remains confident that his new side will be competitive. "Its difficult to know how the team will shape up until the season starts. But I¹ve been pleased with the effort, commitment and fitness so far," Catlin told the Mail.

"Obviously I'll be expecting that to continue and for the more experienced players to give that extra bit more once the competitive matches begin," he added.

For Saturday's final friendly, Catlin had called in 18 players, including seven on the bench, all competing for places in the starting line-up against Tonbridge. The only absentee was Gavin Keogh, the 23 year-old mid-fielder from Petersfield, who has impressed in pre-season, but has been sidelined through a sudden illness.

Up front, Catlin will have to decide on who will partner Frampton from the three youngsters seen so far. 19 year-old Barry Parker was the first to make his mark, scoring a hatful of goals in his first two games. Then there¹s former Havant youth team player, Ben Tiller, also 19, who's yet to score, and Fleet's home-grown youngster, Eddie Smith, 18, who scored two and impressed at Whitchurch, and looked sharp when he came on for Frampton for the final 25 minutes in Saturday's game.

Catlin would not be drawn on any part of his likely line-up for the clash with Tonbridge. He¹ll make his decisions after Thursday training, he said. The manager was not however disappointed at Saturday¹s result against Fleet Spurs, given the unusually hot conditions, and his need to change players around.

"Spurs started the game strongly, as you'd expect from a local team playing a higher league side. And as this was a big game for them, they continued to compete strongly thoughout. Possession-wise we dominated the game, as you'd expect, so created most of the chances. But we should have put more of them away," Catlin added after the game.

It was Fleet Town who scored first, on 28 minutes, Frampton heading in as a result of a great cross from the right from Anstey. To their credit, the Spurs side kept going, and after the home side squandered chances to open up a big lead, Spurs striker, Mike Ritchie got the equaliser 5 minutes before the break, his shot just getting the better of keeper Steve May in the Fleet goal.

After the break there were more chances for the home side, but it was the Spurs which took an unexpected lead on 65 minutes, when Ritchie got his second from close range. Immediately from the re-start, Fleet went on the attack and scored seconds later when Frampton was left clear and was able to pick his spot, past keeper, Filkins.

The Town side then created a sackful of chances to win the game. Substitute Smith went close with several powerful strikes, but each one brought out a fine save from Filkins.

FLEET: May, (sub Clayton, 45 mins), Buckland, Millerick, (Dadson, 80), Murphy, (Saunders, 80), Blakely, Hare, Black, (Regan, 80), Anstey, (Ryan, 80), Parker, (Tiller, 67), Frampton, (Smith, 67), Proctor.