Football managers from every level of the game will rightly take victories in pre-season with a pinch of salt, but it is still always nice to win.
Axminster Town and Honiton Town will both be feeling a mild swell of confidence ahead of the Peninsula League openers in a couple of weeks.
Axminster welcomed Willand Rovers to Tiger Way last week and produced a fine display to secure a 2-1 success over a side making their own preparations for an assault on the Southern League.
Jamie Girton gave Axminster a welcome lead with a curling effort midway through the first period and the Tigers withstood some dazzling possession football from their visitors to retain that advantage until half-time.
Two minutes after the break, Willand finally got their equaliser, when an effort from Josh Searle was expertly saved by Jason Hutchings, only for Alfie Moulden to sweep home the rebound.
Hutchings deserved his luck with the next save, a brilliant block to deny Willand’s increasingly impressive attack.
The Tigers, however, were not just defending a siege, and their determination to keep causing trouble at the other end was rewarded two minutes from the end, when Charlie Wilson snatched a winning goal.
It was a great win for the new Axminster regime under manager Dan Prettejohn and a step up in quality from the previous narrow losses to Wincanton Town and Wellington.
Axminster were scheduled to play at home to Lyme Regis on Tuesday night.
The Hippos of Honiton began their pre-season programme in Saturday’s searing heat with a trip to Kentisbeare from the Devon and Exeter League.
Despite the oppressive conditions, both sides displayed admirable fitness levels, with Honiton running out 4-0 winners, and Blake Freemantle bagging a double.
Honiton Town Reserves are on the search for a new manager to lead the side in Division 3 of the Devon and Exeter League next season, applications welcome via the club website and facebook page.
Honiton begin their Peninsula campaign with a trip to Elmore on August 11, while Axminster start at home to Newton Abbot Spurs on August 7.

Midweek Herald: Honiton Town FC Pre-seasonHoniton Town FC Pre-season (Image: Honiton Town FC)