Diamonds ready for another good test before serious stuff starts

Diamonds were edged out 2-1 in their clash with Banbury United last weekend and now prepare to take on Racing Club Warwick at Hayden Road on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

And Le Masurier feels the players are in good shape mentally and physically with the serious stuff just around the corner.

"I said to the lads that there weren't a lot of negatives (from last weekend's game)," Le Masurier said.

"We have more training sessions to work on patterns of play and one more pre-season friendly before we get to the real stuff.

"We're looking forward to these next two weeks.

"It's more of the same this week and it's another pre-season friendly against a good step three side.

"They (Racing Club Warwick) will want to stamp their authority of being the higher grade team and it will be really competitive.

"We'll be one week away from the season starting so it's all systems go.

"There's so much hype before the start of the season and we hope we'll be ready.

"We've done everything we possibly can to get going and if we're not ready by then, we never will be."

Diamonds start their competitive campaign with an FA Cup extra preliminary round match at Kimberley Miners Welfare on August 8.

And Le Masurier feels his men will benefit from the Banbury battle they got stuck into last weekend.

"It was a good, competitive friendly - perfect for both teams," he said.

"It took us 10 minutes to get going and when you look at the goals we conceded, we've got to take accountability for that.

"I did think our defensive shape was good, our recovery runs to get back in the shape were good, the discipline within that and communication was all very good.

"We just didn't do enough in the first half to get through them but in the second half we were a bit better.

"Again though, the second goal was our fault.

"We did get a goal from a set piece and we deserved that from the work rate we gave.

"We did get in better areas in the second half.

"They were a good side, we played them to challenge ourselves and we didn't embarrass ourselves.

"It was a really good run-out in many aspects.

"I thought the lads really worked hard and there were a lot of positives."