Town kicked off preparations for the 2020/21 season with a 2-0 win over Middlesborough U23s at a blustery Rockliffe Hall.
Simon Weaver fielded an entirely different outfield side in each half, with Josh Falkingham and Jack Muldoon finding the net in the first 45.Town's front two of Aaron Martin and Jack Muldoon combined for the first chance of the game as Martin forced an early save from the Boro ‘keeper.
The hosts had the chance to take the lead 17 minutes in after a mistake from Town's trialist left back led to a one-on-one opportunity, but Joe Cracknell pounced on the ball and gathered.
Town soon started to assert their dominance, but Muldoon and Martin were both denied by a double save.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute as Falkingham played a tidy one-two with Muldoon on the edge of the box before finishing low into the far corner.
Town's lead was doubled four minutes later as Muldoon burst past his marker and beat the keeper with a powerful finish.
Cracknell was called into action again four minutes before the interval, tipping over the bar after Boro's lively right winger had cut in from the left and tried his luck from range.
An entirely different outfield side came out for Town in the second half, with new signing Tom Walker straight into the action crossing for Jon Stead whose header looped over the bar.
Walker's deliveries from corners were also causing problems, almost resulting in an own goal in the 63rd minute, though the ball was scrambled clear.
Brendan Kiernan was unlucky not to play a part in Town's third after threading Walker in behind the defence, only for Boro's substitute keeper to palm the cross away from Stead before he could finish.
Walker had an excellent chance to round the afternoon off with a third after Stead had left a low cross from the right, but slid the ball just past the post.
The afternoon ended with a good save from the Boro keeper from Stead's header, but it was Town who came away 2-0 winners thanks to Falkingham and Muldoon's first half finishes.
Town First Half – Cracknell, Fallowfield, Falkingham, Thomson, Emmett, Martin, Muldoon, Lawlor, Hall, Trialist, Trialist
Second Half – Cracknell, Smith, Burrell, Leesley, Kiernan, Kirby, Stead, Kerry, Walker, Lokko, Trialist
Goals – Falkingham 27, Muldoon 31