Pitchero Non League

Danny Edwards

....players there is no place to hide as they step up preparations for the new season.

The Saints boss saw his side follow their 1-1 pre-season draw at Hanworth Villa last Saturday with a 4-2 win at neighbours Holmer Green on Tuesday night.

Edwards used the game to field a number of triallists, as he continues building for their new campaign, but warned his side he wants to see more effort and commitment.

He said: “It is always nice to win, but it is more about looking at players and seeing how close they are to fitness and working on shape and organisation. “We said the 19th was the deadline for fitness so now we are working on our defensive shape, which I am still not happy with, and working on getting a bit more fluid going forward.

“I don’t like it when players don’t take the sessions as seriously as they should. Some players just worked through the motions and if you’re here to impress and only have an hour, then you need to be trying hard.

“Some have worked hard in pre-season and some haven’t, which is the nightmare for a manager trying to put a squad together.”

Chalfont step up their pre-season campaign with a trip to Southern Division One South & West side Didcot Town on Saturday before hosting Tring Athletic on Tuesday night and Edwards is expecting his side to step up to tougher opposition in the coming weeks.

“We have got Didcot at step four then Hendon, Hemel Hempstead Town and Harrow Borough, which are all Step 3 clubs, so the next few friendlies are teams higher than us which is good.

“We will have to lift it and also accept we might lose games.”

Edwards is looking at bringing in four new players and has moved to re-sign defender Gareth Paxton after he moved back to the area from the North East.

“It is great to have him back because he is a commanding centre half which we missed last year,” said Edwards.

Tags: News | Chalfont St. Peter

• The Evo-Stik League Southern
• Premier Division
  • + Canaries Add Another Trio
  • + Boss Backs Injured Wells to Bounce Back
  • + Eagles Looking to Plug Big Goals Gap
  • + Two New Glassboys
  • + Hayes Makes Generals Move
  • + Poppies Sign Two From Trials Weekend
  • + King Keen on Smith
  • + Sherborne Blow for AFC Totton
• Division One Central
  • + Wells Encouraged by Performance
  • + Nuts & Bolts to Host International
  • + Stringer Still Fine Tuning
  • + Herbert Joins Valley Staff
• Division One South & West
  • + More Peacocks Cross Over to Bridgwater
  • + New Keeper Signs for Martyrs
  • + Tasker Handed Tivvy Chance
  • + Thompson`s Patience Pays Off
  • + Stanley Makes Crusaders Switch
  • + Cleeve Realise It`s Going to be Tough
  • + Ackling in to Help Bourne
  • + Rich Switch to Mangos