FC St. Pauli

Head coach Alexander Blessin named several new recruits in his starting lineup for the opening warm-up match of the new campaign. Simon Spari began in goal, with Jannik Robatsch, Joel Chima Fujita and Mathias Pereira Lage also getting the nod from the St. Pauli boss.

In the pouring rain, Scott Banks opened the scoring after just eight minutes, with Fin Stevens drilling a lovely right-foot shot into the top corner four minutes later. FCSP keeper Simon Spari was called into action for the first time on 26, brilliantly pawing away a shot that was headed for the top corner. Four minutes later, Mathias Pereira Lage added a third for the Boys in Brown.

Blessin made nine changes at half-time, with Spari and left-sided centre-back Jannik Westphal the only players to re-appear for the second period. His charges began fully focused once again, new signing Ricky-Jade Jones prodding home Oladapo Afolayan’s low cross from close range in the 49^th minute before David Nemeth headed home the fifth just after the hour.

The Boys in Brown continued to dominate and added further goals through Sinani, Maurides and Afolayan to lead by eight with 70 minutes gone. The story of the day was written by birthday boy James Sands, who had two reasons to celebrate: one because he scored his team’s ninth goal on 75 and another because he was then allowed to leave the field. He was replaced by Nick Schmidt. Firrel battled on bravely but were unable to stop Jones making it ten just before the end.

GW Firrel (starting lineup)

Hellmers – Schaffer, Diekmann, Röbke, Karius, Gereke, Marmouk, Darsow, Bennert, Özsimsek, Olbrys

Head coach: Bernd Grotlüschen

FC St. Pauli

1^st half: Spari – Robatsch (Westphal 35’), Smith, Dźwigała – Ritzka, Schmitz, Fujita, Stevens – Pereira Lage, Ceesay, Banks

2^nd half: Spari – Westphal, Wahl, Nemeth – Ahlstrand, Sands (Schmidt 75’), Sinani, Pyrka – Afolayan, Maurides, Jones

Head coach: Alexander Blessin

Goals: 0-1 Banks (8’), 0-2 Stevens (12’), 0-3 Pereira Lage (30’), 0-4 Jones (49’), 0-5 Nemeth (61’), 0-6 Sinani (65’), 0-7 Maurides (68’), 0-8 Afolayan (70’), 0-9 Sands (75’), 0-10 Jones (90’)

Yellow cards: Schaffer

Referee: Anke Hölscher (TuS Westerende)

Attendance: approx. 3,500

Photos: FC St. Pauli