Northampton Town boss Justin Edinburgh said he was pleased with the attitude of his players as they won at Frome Town in the first of two pre-season friendlies this midweek, but he also admitted some of the performance down in Somerset was a little 'disjointed.'
"It was a longer journey than we are used to in pre-season but the attitude was good and we got through without any injures so that was good," he said.
"We also got some extra minutes into the players so I was pleased we got through OK.
"It was difficult to find a pace to the game and I felt we were a little disjointed at times. The pitch was slow and we stuck at it on a very dry surface but in terms of a work out it is another hour for some of the squad and 90 minutes for Ash Taylor so that was good.
"Goals are good for strikers, and to keep a clean sheet was pleasing. They are good habits to get into, whatever the game and whoever we are playing. We know we are a long way away from where we want to be but it was another step forward in terms of match fitness."
The Cobblers head to Hayden Road to take on AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Wednesday evening, (7.45pm) with the Cobblers boss saying that those players who played an hour on Tuesday will get another 30 minutes playing time on that game.
"We will spin it around, those who played 30 minutes at Frome will play an hour at Rushden and vice-versa,” he explained. “After that we will be ready to start going into 90 minutes from the weekend onwards and that is where the fluency, shape and patterns of play will come."
Edinburgh also had words of praise for Head of Recruitment Andy Melville and Chief Executive James Whiting after the club completed the signing of Matt Crooks on Tuesday.
"We are delighted to add Matt Crooks to the squad," he said.
"Andy Melville and James Whiting worked tirelessly to get that deal done and I can't thank them enough. It was difficult at times but we got there, we will assess his fitness and hopefully come the weekend we might be able to get some match time into Matt."
Admission prices at Hayden Road on Wednesday will be £4 adults and £2 concessions for this game. The postcode is NN10 0HX.