Monmouth Town's pre-season got underway with a good performance against Hereford-based Hellenic League outfit Pegasus, which went a long way to lifting some of the clouds that had gathered in a long tough season that ended a mere eight weeks ago.
The Town's three senior teams had limped across their respective finishing lines after playing more than 40 games in the final two months of the season between them, and knowing that without an injection of fresh players it would be hard to challenge for honours this season.
Among the bright new things on show here were a revitalised Jack Alderdice, a blistering showing by Player of the Year Elliot Ford, a mature performance by Ashley Ford and a return to the midfield fold for the inspirational Andrew Smith.