Sutton United's players will have been delighted to take a break from the training ground and get some real action under their belts.
Unfortunately, the weather for their first pre-season friendly of the new campaign at the Camrose was more akin to late autumn than the first Saturday of an Ashes series.
With at least four of the likely regulars away on holiday this early fixture gave manager Paul Doswell a chance to take a good look at all the new members of his squad.
The first half line-up saw first appearances in a Sutton shirt for goalkeeper Kevin Scriven, Ryan Adams, Sonny Cobbs, Jason Goodliffe, Justyn Roberts and Kenny Beaney, with Bradley Woods-Garness returning after appearing pre-season two years ago.
It was a close, hard-fought first half but goalmouth action was hard to come by.
At the interval Matt Hann and Sam Stannard were the only replacements and Hann made an instant impression, playing at a pace that nobody else had yet aspired to and attracting two rather crude, distinctly unfriendly challenges with his direct running.
Midway through the half Sutton made five changes, including debutants Anthony Joseph, Richard Willott and John Paul , who were joined by Steve McKimm.
Almost at once, another trip on Hann brought a penalty which ex-Fisher, Grays and Bromley midfielder Beaney converted.
Sutton had the better of the second period without looking like adding to their tally and with three minutes to go Goodliffe was unable to avoid a cross whipped in by Ryan Stephens and the ball ricocheted off him past the stranded Scriven.
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