ADAM Murray praised the mentality of his players after Kidderminster Harriers began pre-season with a 1-0 victory at Droitwich Spa.
An early goal from summer signing Dan Mooney ensured Harriers made a winning start to pre-season at the King George Playing Fields.
Harriers named two trialists in their starting line-up while a further three trialists featured on the bench along with a number of young players and new signings.
And Murray felt the friendly acted as a good first test for his side in their opening pre-season fixture.
Murray said: “I enjoyed it, it was exactly what the first real pre-season game normally looks like there were a lot of changes and a little bit of rustiness.
“It was a good game, it was really physical and a real game. We’ll take a lot out of it, we didn’t risk a few of the boys that put in a real shift in training.
“I’m really happy with the outcome. This was a mentality game in terms of the pitch wasn’t going to be great, you’re going to have to make your own atmosphere and it’s a tough environment to come into.
“But we’re going to face that in our league, we can’t just expect that everything is going to be rosy, that’s not the National League North.
“It was important that I saw the mentality of the players, even the young boys coming on showed the same mentality to win.”
Harriers played Championship side Swansea City in a behind-closed-doors friendly prior to taking on Droitwich.
And following victory against Droitwich, Murray wants his side to create a winning habit ahead of the 2025/26 National League North season.
Murray added: “We had a training game [at Swansea], it was more about the physicals, we spent a lot of time without the ball in crazy heat.
“The Droitwich game was more of a down to earth where you’ve got to battle, do the basics and try and break a block down which we did well.
“I’m happy with the progress the boys are making, I’m happy with the stage we’re at.
“It’s important we keep building that mentality and that winning habit.”
Harriers are next in action against Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, July 19 with kick-off at 3pm at the Croud Meadow.
