I thought it was a good performance, considering the throw-together nature of the team, and quite an enjoyable evening.
There were positives to take from the game, as several players impressed, rather than simply going through the motions as often happens in these fixtures. Feeney played very well and looked more like the player from the early stages of last season. He produced three or four good deliveries, including the assist for the first goal. I also thought Duffy had a decent game in the number ten role, tidy on the ball and playing a couple of incisive passes when the game opened out in the last twenty minutes, one of which was coolly finished by Walker. Merrie had another good, energetic game in the centre of midfield. Davies was as solid as ever at the back.
Watson is a real enigma. He took his goal well but was very low key for the rest of the game, and did not offer a great deal in general play. That is not so much of an issue when he is getting on the scoresheet, but he does tend to become a passenger at times, in a crucial area of the pitch.
Walker took his goal very well indeed, putting the last defender on his backside before slotting home, and looks more of a finisher than some of our other forwards. Glatzel had another up and down game and faded in the second half.
I was encouraged by the fact that our second string was clearly greatly superior to Salford's, despite the money they spend. They had a bit of pace up front with Asante, but little else. Perhaps all of their budget is spaffed on their big name signings.
It was my first visit to Salford's ground, which is situated in a pleasant, leafy suburb, but is pretty grim in all honesty, a soulless, meccano affair.
On to a buzzing Prenton Park on Friday night, and a very different atmosphere.