Workington Reds lost 3-0 at home to Scottish League Two side Dumbarton, with all the goals coming in the first-half.
The Reds had four trialists in the starting 11 and used two more in the second-half, against a decent Dumbarton side who start their League Cup programme on Saturday at home to Stirling Albion.
Workington manager Danny Grainger said: “They are obviously well forward in their preparations while we are just setting off. I thought we started slowly and that cost us, although we were a bit unlucky with the first two goals – the third was a superb strike.”
Reds had gone behind in the second minute when a low cross from the right was turned in by defender Aiden Howarth as he and Ryan Wallace went for the ball.
The second came from the penalty spot after Dan Wordsworth had been rather unfortunate to have been deemed to handle the ball when the lively Ross McLean shot from just inside the area. Stuart Carswell’s spot kick flew in off the post.
Although Workington had come more into the game Dumbarton looked the more dangerous and scored a superb third after Wallace had hit the bar. McLean picked-up the ball just inside the Reds half out on the left, went past two players, cut in and from the angle of the box hit a fierce, dipping shot beyond Jim Atkinson into the far corner.
Reds used a more experienced line-up in the second-half including two trialists from Saturday who have been announced as new signings – former Everton and Chorley midfielder Bob by Carroll and ex-Carlisle United full-back Charlie Birch.
They looked more composed and threatening in the second half with Dumbarton keeper Harry Brown called into action for the first time when he went full length to turn away a low shot from Keelan Leslie.
There was also a chance for Conor Tinnion after latching onto a return pass from Lewis Reilly but he fired wide.
Reds were without some experienced players – Sam Smith, Dav Symington, Ruben Jerome and Steven Rigg who would be challenging for a starting place when Grainger has to make decisions for a competitive game.
They might not all be ready, either, for Reds’ next game which is a friendly against Carlisle United at Borough Park on Saturday.
