Andy Taylor was pleased with his side's opening night's work as the B Team got their pre-season campaign under way at Runcorn Linnets.
The match ended in a narrow 3-2 defeat for Wanderers but Taylor recognised the positives that the first match action will have on his team as they build towards the new campaign.
"First game of pre-season, so it's good to get back into the football," said the B Team boss. "Obviously we're disappointed with the result, we want to win every game we go into.
"However, there were some good minutes into the legs for a lot of lads and there was some good evidence of the work we've been doing on the training field in terms of the patterns of play and slightly different shapes to what we did last year.
"This was obviously a different experience for the players in terms of a non-league ground, a bit of a crowd and something to contend with, particularly in the first ten minutes of the game. The crowd was into it, we were a little bit sloppy at times and that gave them some encouragement."
A fine strike from Dubem Eze and an own-goal saw Wanderers lead at one point before the Northern Premier League side hit back to win.
But Taylor was pleased with the approach of a young side still missing some of their experienced players who have supplemented the first-team squad during pre-season.
"A lot of our lads were bumped up to the first team which is a great opportunity for them," he added. "This gives a chance for the U18s to get involved in our games so we were very young.
"We knew that coming into it was always going to be a test against a physical team. But I thought on the whole a lot of them stood up to it and really impressed."
Central defender Charlie Hayes-Green wore the captain's armband and is keen to keep building his experience after getting a taste of senior action in a couple of the Whites' early pre-season games.
"It's good to get a little bit of the rust off after the off season," added the former Liverpool youngster.
"I think we played some good stuff. There are things we can get better at but on the whole, it was a good day and we're looking forward to the next pre-season friendly.
"There's a new system we're working on so it's about being a bit more consistent with the press, making sure we get it all right and that will come with time.
"I'm only 19, so for me, the most important thing is just getting minutes and playing football and learning as much as I can at this age. Hopefully I can try and get some experience with the first team, whether that's here or elsewhere on loan."
The B Team is in action again on Friday in a training-ground game against a Fleetwood Town XI.
"We will be probably quite young against Fleetwood, but it's an opportunity for the young players to go and show what they're about," Taylor said.