Prime's pre-season continued with the short trip to Southborough to take on last season's Division 1 champions High Brooms Casuals Reserves.

It was always likely to be a stern test for The Numbers who took to the field in their brand new navy blue kit for the first time.

Prime debuts were handed to goalkeeper Dan Balcombe, wingers Tom Gibson and Ross Taylor and new striker Phil Betts. The bench contained 5 players including the returning player/boss Goldsmith and Scott Walters on his last appearance for Prime before moving to London.

Prime kicked off but it was the home side who pressurised from the outset but Prime's back 4 held up will with Buckland and Sykes impressing at full-back and the Cary/Williams centre-back partnership looking promising.

Goalkeeper Balcombe claimed a couple of crosses but was largely untroubled in the first half an hour.

Prime were starting to come into the game with wingers Taylor and Gibson beginning to get on the ball. Taylor provided a couple of teasing crosses from the left and his pace was causing problems for the Casuals' right-back.

Up front Ferguson was struggling to get into the game but Betts was busy and he should have done better after Prime won possession deep inside the Casuals half from a goal-kick.

Abu and Henshall were battling away well in midfield, despite being out-numbered 3 to 2 and Henshall had a drive from the edge of the box well saved.

The game turned just before the break with Casuals scoring twice in the closing minutes. Firstly Sykes' could only half-clear and Casuals exploited a 2 on 1 situation down the right to run the ball into the net.

The second goal followed right on half-time to leave The Numbers harshly 2-0 down at the break.

There were 4 changes at the break with Goldsmith, Davis, Flamank and Walters coming on.

Prime then had their best 20 minute spell of the game. Firstly Walters and Sykes linked up well down the left, before the buccaneering left back fired a teasing ball across the face of goal - just eluding Ferguson and Goldsmith.

Goldsmith and Flamank then linked up before Flamank's precise through ball picked out Sykes who smashed home first time - beating the keeper at his near post for a deserved goal - both for Prime and the player.

Prime continued to pressurise but could not create and clear-cut chances and they were made to pay when Casuals re-established their two goal advantage when striker Simon Hammond cut inside and beat Balcombe.

Goldsmith was then booked in comical circumstances after asking referee Delves several times, at increasing decibel levels, to make some subsitutions! Eventually Betts, Taylor, Gibson, Goulding and Buckland all came on. But with Abu and Henshall both taken off and Williams leaving the heart of the defence, Prime had several players in central positions playing out of position.

Casuals punished them by adding in a further 4 goals in the closing 15 minutes. The fourth goal came courtesy of a mistake by the debutant keeper. The fifth goal came again from Hammond and there were further goals from a free-kick and a header from a long throw as Prime ran out of steam.

All in all it was a useful workout and for 70 minutes Prime played very well and were still in the game.

As fitness improves, they will be hoping to perform for the full 90 at St Lawrence Reserves next Saturday.