THE Young Brewers were beaten in their final pre-season friendly 2-0 by Gresley FC.
Goals from Albert Lansdowne and Callum Riddell handed the Moatmen victory over the Brewers at the Moat Ground, ahead of the Youth Alliance opener against Hartlepool United on Saturday.
Oliver Fairbrother made a string of brilliant saves to keep Albion in the game, while Ethan Vale, Regan Ganley and Noaman Mallass went closest for the visitors.
Gresley opened the scoring midway through the first-half, when Lansdowne got his head on the end of a deep free-kick and powered the ball past Fairbrother.
Ethan Vale went close with a free-kick for the Brewers, before Fairbrother made a stunning save to deny Dexter Morris-Clarke, whose rebound was charged down by Ciaran Gilligan.
Gresley doubled their lead 15 minutes into the second-half. Fairbrother was twice drawn into making brilliant saves, however, he could do nothing about Callum Riddell’s delicate lob, which beat the goalkeeper and the defenders who were on the goal-line.
A minute later, the Brewers had their best chance of the game. Jack Bromfield delivered a delicious free-kick to the back post and Regan Ganley’s powerful header drew a good save out of Ben Allsop in the Gresley goal.
That was the final big chance of the game as both sides competed for possession. The Young Brewers will now look ahead to Saturday, when they take on Hartlepool United in their first Youth Alliance game of the season.