A goal in each half gave visitors Staines Town a winning start to their pre-season programme, defeating gutsy lower division rivals, Fleet Town.
Although, putting the result to one side, both managers would have taken many positives from what was an entertaining, highly competitive match, at Fleet's Calthorpe Park ground.
With 20 players at his disposal, Staines manager, Steve Cordery was able to field almost a different side in both halfs, each player getting 45 minutes. Only keeper, Matt Lovett and defender, Steve Battams, stayed on throughout, with triallists included in both starting line-ups.
Fleet's starting eleven included only four players from last season, with many new summer signings making their first appearance for the north Hampshire club. These included signings from Bashley, Andy Darnton and Gary Connelly and recent arrival, wing-back, Neil Morant, also from the New Forest club.
Manager, Mick Catlin though was without high profile signing, ex-international, Andy Sinton, who is expected to debut in three weeks time, and wing-man Shaun Hale, who was away on military duty.
The visitors enjoyed most of the early possession and controlled the play well from mid-field, without seriously threatening a tight Fleet defence, in which Morant and Darnton were outstanding.
The first chance fell to Staines front-man, Dean Pitcher, on 22 minutes, but he just failed to connect after a fine through ball from mid-fielder, Paul Ellis. For their part Fleet looked dangerous on the break, and immediately from a clearance kick, striker Eddie Smith went close with a well-judged lob, which almost defeated keeper, Lovett.
The young striker had a better chance to score 10 minutes later after another fast break, but his flick was wide of the target.
Staines then took the lead in the 40th minute, when 18 year-old triallist, Jacob Mingle found the top corner with a brilliantly executed strike from 20 yards.
The visitors increased their lead 15 minutes after the break, striker Jermaine Hunter managing to round his marker and slotting the ball past out-stretched keeper, Peter Hooks, who had replaced keeper, Calvin Sparshatt in the Fleet goal during the interval.
Hooks, a new signing from Wessex League club, Moneyfields, impressed ten minutes later turning a shot from Staines' Andre DeLisser round the post, at full stretch.
Fleet continued to threaten, but chances late-on to subs, Ben Buckland and front-man Richard Mealey both went wide of the target.
Fleet Town; Calvin Sparshatt, (Peter Hooks, 45 mins), Neil Morant, Tony Millerick (Jason Smith, 81), Andy Darnton, Louis Johnson, Dan Jeffrey, Gary Connelly (Danny Boyle, 42), Luke Middleton, (Ben Buckland, 50), Paul Lee, Eddie Smith, (Richard Mealey, 64), James Scrivy (Steve Black, 32).
