COLIN Bush's first game in charge of Corsham Town has given the new manager a clearer picture of the task ahead of him.

Bush, who left his position as assistant manager at Chippenham Town at the end of last season to take the reins at Lacock Road, watched his team lose 2-1 against Dorset Combination League side Trowbridge Town on Saturday.

But the game did give him an opportunity to field the bulk of his squad during the 90 minutes.

"The positives were that I got to look at 23 players and try out a few combinations," said Bush. "The way the younger lads played in the second half was promising and we could have easily come out on top.

"There are things we can now pick up on. If we had gone out and won 5-0 we wouldn't have learned anything and it is still very early days."

Bush said it felt strange standing on the touchline without Saunders beside him, but said that chapter in his coaching career had ended.

"I was very excited but it did feel a little odd not being alongside Tommy," Bush added. "We will miss each other but it's a totally different path we've now taken. We spent nine years working together and we will miss each other. But this was a chance for me to start out on my own.

Saunders and Bush worked wonders on a shoestring budget at Calne Town before being tempted across to Hardenhuish Park by chairman Malcolm Lyus in 1998. The most successful period in the club's history followed, with the duo guiding the Bluebirds to Wembley in 2000 and successive promotions.

Bush added: "Tommy and I will possibly have a few of digs at each other during the season but it's all in good faith and fun. We are as good as gold with each other.

"I had a great time at Chippenham, especially when we went to Wembley in the Vase, but I felt the time was right for a new challenge."

He said he is pleased to have got the first pre-season game out of the way.

"It was certainly different and a bit lonely being out there in charge. But having John Woods as my assistant, who I used to know from our time at Chippenham, is a huge help to me," Bush added.

"I feel a lot happier now we have got things under way and we have got plenty of time to get ready for new season. That is what pre-season is all about."

At Chippenham he had been seen as the calming balance to Saunder's more fiery approach. But that didn't stop him delivering a half-time tongue-lashing on Saturday.

He said: "We had some stern words with the players from the first half because you can't give away sloppy goals like that," Bush added. "With a team of experienced players in the first half I don't remember them playing three passes in a row.

"But we discussed what the problems were at half-time and this has to be a wake up call for them. On the positive side the lads in the second half did well and I was very pleased with the younger players, particularly Richard Humphreys and Jan Kilovski, who have come through the youth ranks."

Bush put out a more experienced side for the first half of the friendly with the Dorset Combination League side and watched them promptly concede two sloppy goals. But he was given some crumbs of comfort in the second half display of his younger players, even though they failed to save the game.

Bush said was disappointed with the first but felt there were positives to be taken from the game. "With a team of experienced players in the first half I don't remember them playing three passes in a row. This has to be a wake up call for them," he said.

He added that the game had allowed him to see his squad in action and test a few options. "The positives were that I got to look at 23 players and try out a few combinations," said Bush.

"The way the younger lads played we could have easily come out on top. There are things we can now pick up on. If we had gone out and won 5-0 we wouldn't have learned anything."

Trowbridge took the lead in the fourth minute when Corsham's defence dallied and Dave Percival ran in from the left to clip the ball into the corner.

Corsham showed brief glimpses of quality on the ball and got a quick equaliser when Steve Roddey stole in unmarked at the far post to get on the end of a right-wing cross on 12 minutes.

Bush would have hoped his senior players could have built on the quick reply but a howler from goalkeeper Paul Haines six minutes later handed Trowbridge what proved to be the winner. Winger Gavin Ayres collected the ball on the right touchline in his own half and thumped a pass straight down the middle of the pitch.

Under no real pressure Haines came just outside his area to hack the ball clear but completely missed his kick to let Lee Hayward run through and knock in an easy goal.

Corsham's next warm-up game will be at home to Shipton Moyne on Saturday.