Friendly round-up - Thurs 22nd July

Friendly round-up - Thurs 22nd July

A review of Thursday's pre-season friendly action involving Barclays Premier League sides.

Zoltan Gera scored twice but it was not enough as Fulham were held to a 2-2 draw by Swedish side Halmstad.

A strong Fulham side included eight of the 11 who started the Europa League final, and things started well when Gera headed home Simon Davies' cross in the eighth minute.

But at the other end, goalkeeper David Stockdale could not handle a shot from Emil Salomonsson, and Joe Sise easily equalised in the 24th minute.

Moments later Sise struck again with a good finish to beat Stockdale and put the hosts ahead.

Fulham levelled just before the hour mark when Damien Duff teed up Gera who fired home from 20 yards.

good save

 

Blackpool beat Kilmarnock 5-4 on penalties to reach the semi-finals of the Joma South West Challenge Cup after the match ended 2-2.

The Tangerines twice led through Jason Euell and youngster Lewis Almond but the Scottish club pulled it back before going out on spot kicks.

Stoke City were held to a goalless draw by League One newcomers Notts County at Meadow Lane.

James Beattie was one of the more impressive performers for the Potters in Nottingham, drawing a good save from the Magpies goalkeeper in the second half.

Meanwhile, a largely youthful Stoke line-up won 2-1 at non-league side Nantwich. 

Eighteen-year-old striker Louis Moult scored both goals for the Potters in the first half, slotting in his first from 15 yards and scoring with a delicate finish from close range from a Ben Marshall cross for the second.

The match ended on a high for Nantwich at the Weaver Stadium as Jake Sedgemore curled in a 35-yard free-kick.