EBBSFLEET boss Liam Daish is not panicking despite his side only scraping to a 1-1 draw against Aveley in a friendly last night.

Instead, the former Republic of Ireland international is focusing on getting his side into shape for the new season.

Daish said: “It was only the first match of pre-season and a lot of the players are just getting to know each other, so it was more about fitness than anything else.

“We want to be competitive and work right until the end but the pitch wasn’t the best.

“It was a tough work out, but you can never take too much from your opening game.”

The Fleet fell behind to Aveley against the run of play, before Scott Ginty levelled in the second half.

Daish ran the rule over a number of trialists against the Essex club but doesn’t want to rush into any decisions.

He said: “I will only make a decision on the trilaists when I’m 100 per cent certain in my mind they can cut it.

“All the new lads did OK and equipped themselves but it is always hard to gauge their ability on one game, so I’m just going to keep evaluating them over the course of pre-season.”

Having added experience in attacking midfielder Ram Marwa and centre-half Paul Lorraine, the Fleet boss feels the spine of his side is developing nicely.

Daish said: “Both Marwa and Lorraine know what this league is all about, so they will add something to the squad and provide us with a good spine from which to add and improve on.”

Alongside the experienced spine, Daish has signed up two youngsters from the club’s academy, suggesting he isn’t afraid to blood kids in the physical Conference South.

He said: “If any lads are good enough, then we will give them a chance.

“If I think they can bring something to the side and are capable of playing at Blue Square South level, they will get their chance.

“The two lads I have signed Tom Phipp and Aidan Sherlock are physically equipped to do well in this league.”