ST Albans City manager Steve Castle is likely to step up his bid to strengthen his squad ahead of the start of the Blue Square South campaign. Midfielders Jamie Eames, Sean Ridgway and Adam Fry have all impressed in their pre-season outings against Barnet

ST Albans City manager Steve Castle is likely to step up his bid to strengthen his squad ahead of the start of the Blue Square South campaign.

Midfielders Jamie Eames, Sean Ridgway and Adam Fry have all impressed in their pre-season outings against Barnet and a Spurs XI while Castle has also been looking at former Boreham Wood defender Ola Williams.

Eames, born in Colney Heath, went on to play in the academy at Championship side Norwich City before moving on to Stevenage Borough. The midfielder showed good vision and quality in the first half against Barnet and also impressed in his late cameo in the clash with Spurs on Wednesday.

Fry, the son of Peterborough United Director of Football and former St Albans City player Barry Fry, also enjoyed a strong performance in the 1-0 defeat to Barnet and featured for 30 minutes against Spurs.

Ridgway lined up in the second half against Barnet and earned a start for the match against Spurs at Clarence Park, putting in an accomplished performance.

Defender Ryan Frater faces a spell on the sidelines after suffering a hairline fracture to his leg. The injury to the powerful centre back marred the entertaining 2-1 defeat to Spurs but it is hoped his cast will be removed within a week or so and he will soon be back playing.

Simon Martin scored for City after great work from winger Hassan Sulaiman, a former Arsenal trainee. Spurs had earlier gone 2-0 up with goals from talented young winger David Hutton and Norwegian prospect Alex Olsen.

The Spurs XI was stronger than expected with plenty of Premier League experience in the form of one-time England international Anthony Gardner, midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and Portuguese centre back Ricardo Rocha. It was Hutton that caught the eye though with a sharp display on the left flank and a fine opening goal lofted over City legend Paul Bastock who had come out of his goal to clear a forward pass.