By Jordan Brookfield

We're just glad it has started the right way now, the games are important and it's important for the players to play them. Trainings great but it's all about playing games, you never really get your fitness until you play them so we're going through it slowly but hopefully by the end of all the pre season games we will be fit and ready for the game on the 9th.

The main idea of the game was to give everyone 45 minutes each. Most of the players had 45 last week against Stockport and it was the same again. The only exception was Andy Bishop who we left for that one but he will take part in the games coming up.

Andy was a bit upset about leaving him out of it, but I didn't think he'd get much out of that game. To be fair the first half of it was pretty physical and the last thing we wanted was for Andy to get a knock in our first pre season game. He tells me it's his first pre season in 3 years so we're going to try and treat him right and make sure he's fit, and then he'll definitely take part in all the other games. Last night we had some trialists in and it was an ideal opportunity to have a good look at them. But no, Andy wasn't too happy but who can blame him, he is a footballer and they enjoy playing games.

Wayne Brown was supposed to of been playing last night but was aloud of since his grandmother is unfortunately ill and he had to go down there. But it's a chance for Cameron, he's pretty reliable and I think he's going to be an excellent keeper.

There was no strongest side last night it was a good mix, and I think its right to do that. Obviously you want to play competitive all the way through pre season and so far they are.

The crowd was very good, everyone seemed to be upbeat and positive about everything so hopefully that will continue and I'm sure that when we make some more signings and bring some players in that will only help.

The thing with trialists is you can only see if they are good when they are really playing a game, not through training and I could say I saw what I wanted to see to be fair. They bring something to the table. Both strikers, Phil Marsh and Gary Wales looked bright and lively so that was good. And then we've got Michael Jones who's the left winger who can come in the pitch, he's a really good footballer, and then there's Danny Racchi who can play almost anywhere. And not to forget Nathan Joynes who played second half so I think within them we're looking for a striker so there is competition for the front 2. We lost Nicky Adams so we now need a left winger. But altogether they have been excellent. There are the types that you get them, and put them on the pitch and think 'Oh, what a mistake', but these are genuinely excellent and they all contribute.

Gary Wales was a bit of a surprise, good pedigree and I think last year he didn't play so much because he picked up an injury early on and I had a phone call from an ex player, one that I used to coach who knows him and he said, 'what about him?', so I did some checking up and he looks like a decent player. Bright and lively, and to be fair so does Phil Marsh and Nathan Joynes they all look decent so hopefully we will be able to have a better look at them, against better opposition on Saturday and then probably make a decision.

The decision is looming on the trialists, and also for us really we want someone good to work with, somebody who fits in. So I think it's fair to them as well but if it's a no, then the sooner you can say it the better, so they can go and find another club.

The reaction from the crowd as Efe Sodje took that long run down the field, which is what he brings to the club. I admit we were on the sidelines saying 'just pass it', but he is a crowd pleaser and we all knew what we were getting, a character, but also a really good player which is the most important thing about him. Sometimes you see these players who are crowd pleasers but there performances aren't as good, but with Efe you know what you're getting every week and that's the main reason why we brought him in. He wants to win, he wants to be a better player and he brings things out in the other players around him.

The two that probably impressed a lot of people are Ricky Anane and Jack Dorney who were fantastic and have come through the ranks and I have to say Jack is playing the best I've seen in a while and I was delighted with him, and he just needs to keep doing that. We said after if he trains like he played last night he could be the best player, sometimes he doesn't, but he is a young kid and it's his first year properly training with the professionals and it's a learning period for him. And it's for us to be patient and teach him. And Ricky, well he's just a great lad. The way he plays is how he is, he is incredibly enthusiastic, if you ask him to play somewhere he will do it to the best of his ability, and he is also a crowd pleaser and I'm delighted.