Pitchero Non League

Phil Simkin

.....City duo Jamie Reid and Jacob Wannell.

Manager Phil Simkin revealed last week that he was hopeful of concluding a deal for two unnamed players in time for Saturday’s trip to Bideford.

Neither player featured in the 2-2 draw in North Devon but it is hoped striker Reid and left-back Wannell will be in attendance at tonight’s training session.

Simkin said: “The signings should hopefully be confirmed and they should hopefully be coming down for training tonight. “They are first-year pros from Exeter, who are a club that have always been good to us and continue to be.

“They continue to produce good young players and most of the lads have been with them since they were nine or ten.

“Tom Nichols, who was with us on loan from Exeter last season, was there when he was nine and I did speak to him about the two lads.

“He rates both of them highly and said that if we give Jamie the confidence we gave him then he will score a lot of goals for us.”

Sam Malsom grabbed the Magpies’ first goal of pre-season at the weekend before summer signing Ben Watson marked his return from injury with his maiden strike for the club.

However, the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division hosts hit back to ensure the match ended all square.

Simkin, whose side visit rivals Weymouth this Saturday, added: “They didn’t have a shot on goal in the first half and we played exceptionally well.

“Sam scored to put us ahead and it was the same story in the second half as Ben scored with a great finish to make it 2-0.

“I then made changes and it upset the rhythm unfortunately. They got back into the game and managed to get a draw out of it.

“One or two of the senior players are tired after the games we’ve had but it was a good exercise for us.

“It was a bit of a way to go but it was well worth it as I learned a lot.

“Ben had two efforts kicked off the line and he was the biggest plus on the day. He was a real handful and made a real difference.

“Bideford will do well in the Southern Premier and you could see why.”

A new face among the county town triallists was ex-Hamworthy United midfielder Sam Lanahan.

Simkin, a former Hammers boss, said: “Sam was with me as a youth player at Hamworthy and you have got to look at these players.”

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