The Youth set-ups from United and Rochdale got their heads together this afternoon and came up with a new way of approaching a pre-season friendly.

Eric Kinder told us all about it:

"We did something a bit different, in that we played the game in 15 minute blocks, and that meant that we could try different formations and ask the lads to concentrate on different aspects of the game as the time went on.

In all honesty, it started out alright, with us reacting to what each other wanted to do, but it probably went more towards being a normal game by the time we got in to the second half.

It was useful for everyone though, and it was good that Rochdale were willing to give something like this a try with us. Hopefully we will all have come away with something from it, and it definitely helped us with our fitness work, which is never a bad thing.

I was changing players and formations, and making substitutions and tactical switches constantly, so there was little in the way of flow to it all. He wanted to play with ten men at one point and I wanted a look at 4-5-1, so we have been able to test the water with a few new things.

One of the positives from today was that we looked a real threat going forward. I'm not sure where Rochdale will be this season, or what sort of team they will have, but we can be encouraged that we looked like scoring with our forward play.

I think Ryan Bowman and Andy Cook will be a fiery partnership both on and off the field this season, because they both want to be the one who scores. That's good in a way, I want to see that hunger, but I also want to see that they can play together. It's no good if they are going to waste chances, so I will want to see some quick development on that. Mind you, the pair of them will frighten other teams this season, so I'm looking forward to seeing what they produce. If they do settle themselves down then I really can see us scoring one heck of a lot of goals.

I don't think they had any really serious chances against us, which I'm pleased about, but it will be interesting to watch our back four get properly tested. That will come, and we'll just have to see what happens with that.

The pick of the goals was probably our fourth, because that was a real team effort. It started with Matt Duffy in midfield and our movement was fantastic. It was eventually sent in to the box and Andy Cook laid it on a plate for Bowman with a lovely nod back across the face of goal. Ryan has a lovely strike on him, and he thumped it in to the back of the net from about 8 yards out. Like I say though, it was a great team goal, and I enjoyed watching it.

I was also pleased to see players like Shaun Law and Si Lakeland get used to the pace of the game and make a mark. James Wood was used in midfield and at right back, and I had a look at Steve Swinglehurst in the centre of defence. I don't want to say too much too soon, but I am happy to say that young Steve looks like he has been with us for a couple of years already. If we can keep him going as he is now then we have got ourselves a good youngster on our hands. Another U16, Mark Sloan, had a really good game and he grew in to it, so we can take some real encouragement all over the pitch."

United Team: All players were used in multiple positions throughout the game.