Prime started off their pre-season with a game against old foes AFC Valour who now ply their trade in the Premier Division of the Tonbridge League - 2 divisions above The Numbers.

The 2011/12 season is set to be a transitional one for Prime with Excell, Parsons, Polinski and Matt Walker amongst others leaving the club - but new signings Tom Cary and Chris Gray made their debuts - forming a brand new centre-back partnership.

With Scott Walters pulling out just before the game, Seb Fleming started in left-midfield alongside the soon to depart Matt Walker and new captain Salk Abu.

Valour started much the brighter and with understandable hesitation in the Prime backline, they hit the post and the bar in the first 15 minutes and also tested Kerton several times.

Importantly Prime kept it scoreless and then started to come into the game. Flamank and Fleming were linking up well down the left and Walker and Abu were getting more and more of the ball in the heart of the midfield.

Joe Walker and Skovborg-Hansen clearly had the legs on the Valour backline and Prime had one or two half-chances - including Abu's drive from 25 yards that whistled a yard wide.

With rolling subs available, Goldsmith brought himself on to protect Matt Walker's damaged knee and he immediately linked up well with Henshall in a move down the right and then nodded the winger's deep corner just over the bar.

With 10 minutes to go until the break Prime took a surprise lead when Skovborg-Hansen's flick found Joe Walker who cut inside his man and fired in a shot that took a deflection and and wrong-footed the keeper.

At the other end, Cary and Gray continued to impress, stifling the Valour front line.

Fleming had to depart at the break, and with Joe Walker struggling with a knock, Sturmey joined the action on the left of midfield. Matt Walker resumed in midfield with Goldsmith reverting to centre-back and Cary pushed up front.

Valour pushed Prime old-boy Mellors up front and he was the man to level matters - nodding in a deep corner at the far post.

Prime then had a loud shout for a penalty when Skovborg-Hansen blitzed his way past the Valour defence. He appeared to get scythed down just inside the box, but the ref played on. Minutes later Prime were awarded a spot-kick when a cross from the right hit Mellors' arm inside the box. Henshall stepped up - but his spot kick resembled a pass-back and the keeper saved easily.

Prime paid for this when Matt Walker's back pass to Goldsmith somehow rolled under the manager's foot and Mellors latched onto it. There was a strong suspicion that Mellors then held Goldsmith back (by pretty much hugging him!) as he tried to atone. The ref again waved play on and the ball was rolled to the other Valour striker who side-footed home.

Valour increased their lead again in controversial circumstances. Goldsmith challenged for a high-hanging ball on the half-way line but he had failed to spot Matt Walker who was waiting for the ball to drop - and succeeded in ploughing into the back of his team-mate - leaving Walker lying prone on the floor.

As Goldsmith and a couple of other players stopped to check on Walker, Valour played on and made the most of a 3-on-1 situation to tap home - again the referee's whistle was notable by its absence!

Prime were running out of players and energy - this was Valour's 4th pre-season game, and they had 4 subs at their disposal. It was no great surprise when Valour added a 4th - this time Kerton's sliced clearance left Sander needing to win a 50/50 to avoid letting 2 Valour players clean through on goal - unfortunately the spin on the ball deceived Sander and Valour made the most of the situation and Mellors rolled in his 2nd of the game.

All in all it was a good workout for Prime and an excellent first 45 minutes. They move on now to face West Farleigh at Bayham next week looking to build on this performance.