Match Summary
David Moyes gave his charges their first public runout of the pre-season campaign in the little Austria town of Bruck. With a number of World Cup stars still enjoying their holidays, new signing Joseph Yobo still awaiting his work permit, plus the usual list of niggling injuries to contend with, it was an opportunity to cycle through most of the supporting players in the expanded first-team squad.
Reserves of note included Leon Osman, now hopefully fit after a disastrous season of injuries, Sean O'Hanlon, George Pilkington, Peter Clarke, Tony Hibbert, Kevin McLeod, Keith Southern, Nick Chadwick, and of course Wayne Rooney, whom we promise not to over-hype at every opportunity!
Trialist Omar Daley (Jamaican striker from Hazard United) was also involved but Juliano Rodrigo (Brazilian striker from Botafogo, on loan with Athletico Mineiro) was out of action after suffering a poisoned toe from boots that were too tight.
A lively game ensued, with Omar Daley hitting the post in the first minute, Goals came from Sean O'Hanlon, who placed his header well from a Leon Osman corner; Radzinski, who deflected Kevin Campbell's header in off his chest, and yes, the Great White Hope, Wayne Rooney.
Rooney's goal came off an excellent long ball from Keith Southern with the youngster shaking off two defenders to slot home. Huber pulled one back for the home side when he broke away to slot it past Paul Gerrard.
But, whatever the hype-merchants may claim, this was not Wayne Rooney's first senior goal for the Blues. This was merely a friendly — and friendlies don't rate in the record books.
Pre-season Jaunt, Part 1
It's been a while since we have been on a little pre-season jaunt to foreign parts, but here we are in Austria for a couple of games. The team have been here on a fitness camp; our opposition will be lower league sides — part timers by all accounts.
The setting for this game looks spectacular: we are in a deep valley.
On to the game. With all available players apart from the World Cup personnel here and the fact that we are to play twice in as many days, every one will get some playing time. It took just 45 seconds for the first attack, Radzinski the provider for the new boy trialist Omar Daley to hit the base of the post from close range.
To be fair, we are playing against part timers — postmen, binmen, shopkeepers, and the odd bricklayer — we should in most cases run up a cricket score against sides like this. Tonight we could only manage to put the ball in the back of the net three times... I will put down all the squandered chances to the fact it was our first game of the new season.
The goals came first from Osman with the corner and O'Hanlon with the header down to the bottom left-hand corner. Five minutes later, Radzinski from a Daley cross found Campbell in the area, his glancing header fell fortunately for the head of Radzinski who saw the ball go into the back of the net.
Bruck took 35 min's to mount an attack — in fact, their only other attempt resulted in a goal.
Half Time: 2-0
The interjection of Rooney saw a bit of movement up front. A long ball from the back, Southern the provider just before the hour mark... Rooney's pace and strength saw off the defence, then he calmly stroked the ball in the left-hand corner. He could have doubled his tally but was denied by a spectacular save on a one-on-one situation by their overworked keeper.
Bruck scored a consolation goal on 66 min's when a long ball from the back and a mistake from one of the Everton midfielders saw Huber grab his chance; Gerrard unable to stop the resulting shot.
Steve Milne