Brentford B Head Coach Neil MacFarlane was pleased to see his side given a difficult test on Saturday as they faced off against Maidenhead United in what was their second match of pre-season.
A solitary goal for Maidenhead in the first half won the match but the young Bees put in another hard shift as they continue to build their way back to full fitness.
"It was another good run out, against National League opposition," said Neil. "We've been here a number of times but today it was baking heat which really tested the players to their limits. The attitude and the application in game two was first class and we're building fitness really well.
"The fitness levels are good but there is still more to come and naturally it's the sharpness that needs to come over the course of pre-season. We've now played game two and as we head to Wales next week we will have another match at the end of the week against Swansea so we're in a good place."
With the United goal coming from a set play, Neil said the side will continue to work on the training ground and as personnel settle into the group in the coming weeks, that will help the team get into a rhythm.
He explained: "You have to deal with the physical threat and it was summed up in the first half where we had total domination of the game but we succumbed to a wide free-kick in what was the only goal of the game. That's what these games can do to you, they either hit you with that direct style of play or on set plays. Again, that's things we can keep brushing up on through pre-season, but it's very much a changed group and we have a number of Trialists in which will settle down in the weeks to come."
The match also presented the chance for new signing Yehor Yarmoliuk to get his first run out in red and white as he played the final 30 minutes of the match and showed some impressive glimpses as he adjusted to his new team.
"We're delighted for him, he's been in with us now for three days and we've been helping him to settle in at the Club," said Neil. "On the training ground his attitude has been first class and you can see glimpses of what he will bring to us. For him, like the rest of the group, it's about gradually building on those fitness levels."
The B Team will head to South Wales for a training camp on Monday next week as they continue their pre-season work and with the squad continuing to develop in recent weeks with some new additions, Neil feels it will be a good opportunity to bring the group together for an extended time, leaving opportunities for more hard to work.
He said: "As always when we go on tours, particularly at this stage of pre-season, it's great to bring the staff and players together. We will have more time than ever to work with them on and off the pitch. We'll then start slowly to work on more things (on the training pitch) and it will then culminate in a really good game against Swansea."