Jones more than happy with opening 9-0 win over Berkhamsted

Town boss Nathan Jones was happy to see his side hit the ground running during their 9-0 pre-season victory against Southern League opponents Berkhamsted yesterday.

Just 24 days after the Hatters were securing their Championship status with a 3-2 win over Blackburn Rovers, the players were making their first steps into preparing for the new campaign after a return to training on Monday.

They did so in handsome style, as Jones said: “It's been a quick turnaround, but the lads have done brilliant.

“They've been away, had two full weeks off and we've had four days training, so it was a nice test for us.

“To come somewhere local was excellent and they were brilliant in terms of our intensity and the way that we moved the ball, it was a nice game for us to start with.

"That's (the opening goal) is sometimes the hardest thing when you have these games.

"They were very organised and difficult to break down, so you need the goal and once we got the goal it filled us with a little bit of confidence and we played with that freedom after that.

“It was a real good workout, no injuries which is the best thing and a proper, proper workout, so we're very, very happy.”

Danny Hylton and James Collins scored hat-tricks, with Josh Neufville, Sonny Bradley and George Moncur on target, as Jones continued: “They (strikers) were both excellent and praise for Harry Cornick as well who has set three up for James.

“But our intensity, our work-rate, the attitude, how we handled the ball, I was so, so happy and they're difficult games because you never know how they're going to go.

“If you don't do it right, you could get caught, but we were very good and I'm pleased.

"They've come back in good spirits, come back in good shape, it's only their first game, so we've got another month before we are where we need to be.”

Town go up against Wealdstone, Stevenage and Northampton Town in their next three matches, with Jones hoping they can begin the Championship campaign on September 12 showing the kind of form they finished last season with.

He added: “Towards the end of the last campaign we probably gathered a bit of momentum.

“We took 11 points from the last five games, so it was strange for us to then have the break, then we’re coming back, so they're not too far de-conditioned.

“We’ve got another month to sharpen them right up and go into the season.

“They're in good shape, the break might have come at the wrong time, but it was good and we achieved what we wanted to.”