Five senior players were given half a game to top up their match fitness as the B Team started its Central League campaign with a comfortable win over Notts County’s youngsters.
Kyle Dempsey – who made his return from injury as a substitute against Wrexham in Sunday’s goalless draw – was one of those to benefit from a run-out at Lostock and opened the scoring as the Whites scored twice before the break.
Aaron Morley and summer signings Jay Matete, Jordi Osei-Tutu and Chris Forino were also given 45 minutes of game time, while goalkeeper Luke Southwood played the full 90 and was rewarded with a clean sheet.
Dempsey was on target 10 minutes in as the midfielder cleverly hooked the ball home after a cross from Dubem Eze had been blocked.
Not surprisingly Wanderers had plenty of the ball and chances to add to their lead as Osei-Tutu and Ben Andruecci both saw efforts blocked before the second goal came three minutes before half-time.
Wing-back Osei-Tutu was tripped following another run forward and Eze capped a lively first-half showing by stroking home the penalty.
County – who tested Southwood just once before the break – had a chance to pull a goal back early in the second half when a header from skipper Fred Pitts bounced down and then and over the bar.
But having made their five changes, the young Whites regained control and after Andreucci had gone close a couple of times and captain Sam Inwood lifted an effort just over the top added three goals in the final 20 minutes.
Substitute Luke Matheson claimed an excellent third when he chested down a fine pass from Joe Toole to fire home and with the Magpies tiring they gifted a fourth when goalkeeper Milai Perott steered the ball into his own net.
Harrison Fleury then completed the scoring as he curled the ball home from Trevon Bryan’s cut-back as the Whites put their first points on the board on a beneficial afternoon on several fronts.
B Team boss Andy Taylor - starting his first full season in charge - said: "It's good for our lads and really positive when some of the first-teamers play. It's a great experience to play alongside and learn from them.
"It was also pleasing that when we made the changes at half-time and looked more like the B Team we built on what they had done, maintained it and added more goals.
"Being picky I think we could have won by even more and probably deserved more but I was pleased with what we did. There's plenty to learn and improve but it's good start.
"We are in development football and improving players but it's always good to win."
Wanderers: Southwood; Toole, Forino (Irwin HT), Inwood; Osei-Tutu (Matheson HT), Morley (Sharples HT), Matete (Bryan HT), Weston; Dempsey (Fleury HT), Andreucci, Eze.
Notts County: Perott; Pitts, Brown, Cisse, Rice (Nyakuhwa 55), Sanderson, Smith (Muir 73), Adiefeh, Li (Jasper 55), Reynolds, Hazard (Edwards 55). Substitutes: Beckett.
Pictures: Ben Livingstone.