NANTWICH Town manager Phil Parkinson was delighted with how his squad started pre-season after a win away at Audley FC.

The Dabbers put six goals past the Staffordshire Counties Senior League side on their first run out of the new season.

Goals from Steve Jones, Matt Bell, Tom Fisher, Elliot Booth, Sam Hall and Lewis Short saw the Dabbers record a 6-1 victory.

Parkinson said: “It was a really good work out. They're a very competitive team, who are used to winning in their league so they were not going to roll over and just let us have it all our own way.

“They put in a lot of hard tackles and a real workmanlike performance from them made it difficult first half.

“We were really disappointed to give away a penalty due to poor defending from our point of view.

"But apart from that everything we have been working on in training, ball retention and formation going forward at times was top draw.

“There was some real stand out performances as well. But again we are not all about individuals it’s a team effort and as well as the forwards did the defenders it’s going to be tight at times and show us their metal and some of these Audley lads tested that.”

Parkinson was delighted to give both Jon Moran and Darren Thornton game time ahead of the new season.

He said: “You're looking at those two, unless anyone shoots through such as Ben Mills, to be your starting centre halves.

“It would have been easy for me to go strong first half and then young lads go out and learn for yourselves.

“But you learn from players around you and watching your moves.

“That is the best way to learn so I’m hoping that the young lads have taken a lot from that.”