The new season approaches at first divison Atworth Utd under the new management of Phil Strange, with some old faces, new faces & a sense of optimism.

After a season of disappointment in 2008/09 a fresh season brings a new challenge with new players.

However a more than familiar performance greeted the opening friendly of the season against Cooper Avon, last years first division winners. With the bear eleven turning up Atworth struggled to a 6 - 1 loss to a very good Cooper side.

The second friendly of the season played out at the Atworth Recreation ground saw Atworth take on local rivals The Foresters. Guaranteed to generate a big turnout Atworth arrived with 16 players including The Forresters front two from last year Leigh Rowles-Hitchcock and Sean Fordham. Whilst Rowles-Hitchcock could not play due to a broken wrist, Sean Fordham duly took his place up front against his old team.

It proved to be an excellent game with Atworth starting the better with good possession of the ball although no clear openings. With a fast start from Atworth it was typical that Forresters should take the lead halfway through the first half when Glenn Young was out muscled in the box and Tom Bentley easily slotted the ball past Craig Rees in the Atworth goal to give Foresters the lead.

Stung by the goal against the run of play Atworth regained the initiative and equalised ten minutes later through debutant Rob O'Harrow, having easily out paced the defender he scored the first of what will hopefully be many goals this season.

With the game drifting towards half time at 1-1 Foresters stung Atworth again with a superb strike from outside the box from Bentley this time beating keeper Rees at his near post from a tight angle. Whilst a great strike Rees will be disappointed to have been beaten from distance on his near post.

The second half began brightly with chances at both ends but it was Atworth who equalised again following a mazy run through the middle from Ross Menghini, he fed a straight ball through the Forresters defence for Ricky Sullivan to run on to and score past the helpless John Wiltshire.

Atworth went from strength to strength after the equaliser with a number of chances but took a further 25 minutes for them to take the lead, following another excellent run from Ross Menghini a diagonal ball from the right found Scott Boyd who arrived with perfect timing to slot the ball past the advancing Wiltshire.

The game was wrapped up with 15 minutes to go when a perfect cross from the right wing by Joe Murray again found Scott Boyd at the far post, he rose majestically to place a header back across the keeper and into the far corner. An excellent goal which rounded off a very good Atworth performance and shows great promise for the coming season.

Foresters manager Pat Johnson added that although Atworth may have won the friendly, his team will be up for the league meeting when points are at stake.