All the action came in the first half at Cannon Park on Tuesday evening as a young City side emerged 3-2 victors from the pre-season match with Retford United.

Manager Peter Jackson used the game against last season's Unibond First Division South champions to give some of the younger members of his professional squad a run-out whilst trialists Sam Mullarkey and Adrian Patulea, who both scored and impressed against Lincoln United, were also handed a starting berth. Two more trialists, Dean Barnes and Abdou Bojang, were on the bench.

Skippered by Martin Pembleton, City took the lead midway through the opening half thanks to a fine finish from Jack Roberts, who was recently called up for Republic of Ireland U19 duty. The goal came after good work from Patulea down the right and when his centre was half-cleared, there was Roberts to rifle a fine volley into the bottom left corner of Ross Turner's net.

Five minutes later, Danny Hone doubled the Imps' advantage when the centre-back, up for a corner, was on hand to convert an Owain Warlow centre after good link-up play between Chris Bond and Pembleton had created the opportunity for Warlow to get in his cross.

In the 34th minute Romanian striker Patulea, fresh from his hat-trick against Lincoln United, got in on the act as he flicked home a Pembleton free-kick from close range to make it 3-0 but a neatly taken brace from the lively Stewart Cotwell saw the Badgers pull it back to 3-2 at half-time.

Trialists Bojang, who slotted in on the left-wing with Warlow dropping to left-back, and front man Barnes were given a run out for the second half and although Retford shaded things possession-wise, Ayden Duffy ensured the young City side emerged with the victory by pulling off a couple of good saves to keep the hosts at bay.

MATCH FACTS

City: Ayden Duffy, Chris Bond, Luca Coleman-Carr, Danny Hone, Connor Fitzpatrick, Martin Pembleton, Jack Roberts, Gary King, Owain Warlow, Sam Mullarkey, Adrian Patulea.

Subs: Abdou Bojang (for Coleman-Carr 42), Liam Bull (for Roberts 50), Dean Barnes (for Mullarkey 58), Rob Burch.

Goals: Roberts (22), Hone (27), Patulea (34)

Retford United: Ross Turner, Stuart Ludlam, Dan White, Luke Staton, Ben Chambers, Michael Simpkins, Ryan Hindley, Matt Fisher, Michael Godber, Stewart Cotwell, Steve Owens.

Subs: Paul Grimes, Chris Kingston, Michael Staley, Gareth Davies, Nathan Millington, Adam Scott, Will Tomlinson, Ollie Chappell.

Goals: Cotwell (40, 45)

Referee: Mr Coote. 

Attendance: 294