QUENTIN Townsend declared himself happy with his Pershore Town squad after pointing to competition for every shirt in his team.
The strikers got among the goals in the weekend 8-0 friendly win against Barnt Green Spartak and a clean sheet was another plus.
Manager Townsend will make enforced changes for the next two friendlies, at home to Droitwich Spa on Saturday and then a trip to Hereford side Wellington on Tuesday.
He says he will have lots of decisions to make before the Midland League Division One season kicks off on August 13 at home to Nuneaton Griff.
Key summer signing Jamie Clarke led the goals tally against Barnt Green, netting four times, with Gaz Evans scoring twice and new signing Will Gayton and teenager Kallum Powell also on target.
“Jamie is looking really sharp, scoring four against Barnt Green, and Will Gayton ran the show,” said Townsend.
“The pleasing thing was that we created a lot of chances and we kept a clean sheet to boot.
“Results aren’t the be-all, end-all in pre-season. It’s about getting fit, learning patterns of play and getting to gel as a team. Myself and [assistant] Kim Casey are pleased with what we’ve seen so far.
“I’m really happy with the competition I’ve got all over the park. I’ve got five left-footers which gives us great balance.
“And I feel we got some of the league’s best midfielders fighting for places.
“It will give me a headache because I can’t play them all but I don’t mind those sort of problems.”
Townsend was frustrated that Pershore’s scheduled home friendly with Malvern Town on Tuesday was scrapped but he says the Droitwich and Wellington fixtures will offer further chances for his players to stake their claim.
Evans and defender Shaun Griffiths joins the list of absentees to face Droitwich, along with Sean Edwards, Dane Aldington and Dan Dineen, while Glen Sitch and James Walker have injuries.
Pershore start the league season with a testing game against Nuneaton Griff, who finished third last season, at the King George V Stadium.
They then head to newly-promoted Chelmsley Town on Tuesday, August 16 and then entertain Townsend’s former club Southam United the following Saturday.
Pershore have also been paired with Southam in the Polymac Packaging League Cup first round.
