Friendly Fire

Hippolyte satisfied with summer's work

Maidenhead United FC boss Johnson 'Drax' Hippolyte is happy with how his side's pre-season campaign is going - even though they have yet to win a game.

So far this summer United have lost two and drawn one of their summer friendlies, that is in stark contrast to last year when they won all nine warm up games.

Drax admits he has been frustrated by injuries to certain players but he insists he has seen plenty of positive signs so far.

He said: "I'm fairly happy with how things are going, I think we've played well in patches".

Following their 3-1 defeat against Wimbledon last week, the Magpies were beaten 2-0 at Aylesbury on Saturday before drawing 1-1 with a Brentford Development XI on Tuesday night.

Some context -

AFC Wimbledon's result in the game prior to playing us? Lost to Reading ... 7 (SEVEN) - nil.

Aylesbury's result in the game prior to playing us? Lost to Chinnor.

Brentford Development XI's result in the game prior to playing us? Lost to Banbury United.

Oh well, I'm sure Maidenhead's form will pick up when our lack of fitness has been sorted ;-)

The United boss said: "I spoke to Lee (Barney) on Tuesday and I said I'm expecting double figures from him this season".

Double figures in goals or appearances? And for which club?

It's difficult to tell, bearing in mind last off-season - 5th May 2011 to be precise - Drax was himself lamenting that Barney "hasn't had a lot of chances" (unsurprising, what with the likes of Cliff Akurang, Craig Faulconbridge, Jefferson Louis and Anthony Thomas having been brought in - by Drax - ahead of him).

The diminutive yet lightning-quick and highly-regarded young striker was then loaned out - again, by Drax - to Beaconsfield SYCOB, where he would spend the majority of last season ...

Another player who has impressed Drax during the early stages of pre-season is young centre back Devante McKain.

"If I had to pick my team for the first game of the season today, Devante would be starting," said the Magpies boss.

"He's the most mature 18-year-old I've seen, he's not fazed by anything. I've never seen a better defender at his age in the Conference South".

"I would have him over either of the Brentford centre halves I saw on Tuesday, all day long."

Interested parties should contact Mr J. Hippolyte, c/o MUFC Ltd, York Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

^^^ Brandy just out of shot