BRACKNELL Town's new manager, Sam Lock, said there were still "plenty of positives" to come out of the game despite seeing them lose 4-1 to Wealdstone in their opening pre-season friendly last Friday, writes Dave Wright.

The much-changed Robins matched their National League South opponents for much of the time before running out of steam and conceding three late goals, two of them superbly taken by Dennon Lewis, fresh from his appearances on ITV2's reality show, Love Island, earlier in the week.

"We matched them for 70 minutes and I thought we were especially outstanding in the first half," said Lock.

"But they (Wealdstone) brought a whole new 11 on in the second half and we blew up with about 20 minutes to go. We just couldn't keep going and fitness became a problem.

"The result was not important. We were more interested in seeing how our players performed and the passages of play, and there was a lot to be pleased about with plenty of positives to come out of the game."

Bracknell's starting line-up contained only four of the side that finished last season – Mark Scott, Joe Gater, Seb Bowerman and Ashleigh Artwell, while Dave Hancock came on in the second half.

Harrison Bayley missed out due to a groin injury, which could keep him sidelined for at least two weeks, and Kensley Maloney was not available.

Two new signings were also missing with Lee Barney away on a family holiday and Dan Bayliss left out after rolling his ankle in training.

Five 'trialists' were named on Town's team list, but two in the starting line-up were familiar faces to supporters.

Towering centre-back Justin Clayton, who was at Larges Lane a couple of seasons ago, played for 45 minutes, while another ex-Robin, Shane Cooper-Clark, played alongside new signing Nathan Minhas up front.

Cooper-Clark, having left Thatcham during the summer, showed he has lost none of his touch, when firing home Town's 62nd-minute equaliser, three minutes after Jacob Mendy had given the visitors the lead.

The goal was set up by Bowerman, who had an outstanding game, displaying his versatility when racing back to slide Ross Lafayette's goal-bound shot off the line just before half-time.

Most of his good work was seen up front, with Bowerman starting on the flanks before moving inside with an hour of the game gone. He and defender Rob Sheridan looked the stand-out performers in the home side, but several others also impressed.

Wealdstone, however, had several new signings and six un-named trialists to come on in the second half and it was one of the new boys, Lewis, who was to prove Wealdstone's match-winner.

The 22-year-old, who had previously played professionally for Watford and Falkirk, wasted no time in troubling Town's defence with his pace and had gone close before making it 2-1 in the 77th minute, following up after his initial effort had been blocked by Scott.

Two minutes later a trialist extended his side's lead and Lewis, enjoying more success than he had on Love Island, completed the scoring with a superb strike in the 86th minute.

Bracknell host National League side Maidenhead United, Lock's former club, in a friendly at Larges Lane this coming Saturday.

The Isthmian League, now sponsored by BetVictor, are due to announce their fixtures this Thursday.

Keeper Chris Grace, who played for Bracknell and Binfield last season, has joined Hendon, having previously been there on loan, while Liam Ferdinand, who was Town's leading scorer last term, has been linked with a move to Hungerford.

Another striker on the move is Ian Davies, who has left Binfield for Ascot United.