Richie Wellens praised his side as they overcame their highest-ranked non-league opposition in Hungerford Town on Tuesday night.
Town were split in two as half of Wellens’ squad travelled to Salisbury with the other 50-per-cent joining the Gaffer at Bulpit Lane.
Both sides prevailed as victors with Wellens’ side beating the Crusaders 4-1, with Noel Hunt’s Robins in Salisbury cruising to a 6-1 victory.
Jerry Yates, Ellis Iandolo, Ralph Graham and Keshi Anderson were on target for Town in Hungerford with Kaiyne Woolery, Scott Twine, Tom Broadbent, Jacob Bancroft and a brace from a trialist ensuring another pre-season win at the Raymond McEnhill Stadium.
Wellens said it was all about the minutes for sets of players.
“In the end, it was a good exercise – when we got here (Hungerford), we were a bit worried about the pitch. It was bumpy, rock-hard and uneven in places but we dealt with it well. I’m pleased we got an early setback because we had to show a little bit of character.
“That was the first goal we’ve conceded. I was pleased we gave Mathieu Baudry 60 minutes, Dion Conroy got 70, Dan Ballard played the full game, so did Jerry Yates – players like that need to get games and it's the same for the lads at Salisbury. I told Hunty about only four of them to get 70 minutes.
"I thought both full-backs were very good and full of energy, Ralph (Graham) got 90 minutes and a goal so I’m pleased for him.
“Keshi Anderson, when he came on, was very, very good and I thought the young lads were pretty good so, all in all, a very good night.
“It’s difficult when you make a lot of subs – there’s a high turnover of players, the game becomes a bit bitty, a bit broken. People are tired but the subs and young lads that came on played really well.”
Wellens was, inevitably, quizzed on his ongoing attempts to add to his strikeforce:
“I’m aware that everyone still wants me to get strikers in – we are working every day but I’m also aware that the budget is where it is. I’ve been honest about getting the striker that I want – there’s no point me rushing in and going for one when, as time goes by, I can get the one I want.
“We’re 95% on one – we think we’ve got him but we just have to wait for that to be finalised and that’ll probably be another week or ten days.”
