Bodmin Town have work to do to increase both ‘fitness and sharpness’ levels ahead of the new season according to their manager Matt Hayden, writes Tom Howe.
Following back-to-back away friendlies, a 2-2 draw at Tavistock and a 2-0 win at Bere Alston, Town returned to their Priory Park home to tackle a strong Torpoint Athletic side on Tuesday.
Jordan Hogan traded a goal with last season’s golden boot winner Curtis Damerell in the first-half, before Torpoint flexed their muscle and scored again through Darren Hicks and Matt Cox after the break to seal a 3-1 triumph.
Speaking to Cornwall Sports Media after the full time whistle, Hayden – taking charge of a game at Priory for the first time since succeeding Darren Gilbert at the helm – admitted his team were ‘off it’ and steps would be taken to improve prior to their South West Peninsula (SWP) Premier West opener on August 6.
“It is a tough one,” reflected a philosophical Hayden. “Torpoint have been together a long time. They are a fit side and you could see that they were very fit coming into the game. Tonight showed me that we are still off it in regards to fitness and sharpness.
“The boys will be here training before going again on Friday and next midweek so eventually that fitness and sharpness will come. Take nothing away from Torpoint, they have been together a long time like I said. You could see from the tackles that were flying in, nobody wanted to let anything slip and it almost felt like a league game at points.
“There were some positives which we can take away. This was the first time that everybody has been together because we have had holidays, people working or people being away. They are not going to gel overnight, it is going to take a few weeks for it all to come together.
“We edged ourselves in and shook the dust off but the end of pre-season is going to be tough, leading in to when the season starts. Most of them are new signings and have taken off quite well. Rubin Wilson was superb, Jacob Bowker did incredibly well and Lewis Webber has always been solid.”
Town, who fielded further new signings in Tyler Yendle and Curtis Dennan as well as trialist Orlando Anker and returning goalkeeper Adam Robathan (pictured), return to action at Torpoint’s Western League rivals Millbrook on Friday evening (July 22).
They then entertain SWP Premier East side Elburton Villa on Tuesday (July 26) before concluding their pre-season programme at The Windmill on Saturday, July 30.
Featured Image: Matt Friday / Cornwall Sports Media