Matt Hamshaw bagged a goal inside two minutes in Notts County's 2-1 success over Slovenian outfit Olympia Ljubljana yesterday, and the winger admitted afterwards it was satisfying to finally play in the Magpies' first pre-season fixture.
Hamshaw and Jay Smith netted the goals as Notts came out on top in torrential conditions.
The game was a small first step towards the season's opener at Bradford City on August 9, and from the Hamshaw's point of view the game could have not gone any better.
He told nottscountyfc.co.uk: "Obviously it is very early days in pre-season, but for me it could not have gone any better really with the goal early on.
"You take everything one step at a time, and the first game was obviously our first step towards the first game of the season.
"The weather was crazy out there during the game, but once the whistle goes you are so engrossed in the game you don't think about much else - and that's what we all did.
"I must admit the weather could have been better for July and pre-season, especially when we're hearing it is warm back home!"
Forget the result, the friendly was purely arranged to allow the squad to gain vital match fitness for the first time during pre-season.
Despite Manager Ian McParland admitting fitness was the most important thing, Hamshaw believes it would have been unprofessional had the players not wanted to go out to win the game.
"Fitness is a major thing, but if wouldn't be natural if you didn't want to cross that white line and didn't want to win," he said.
"Any professional in any sport will tell you the same, and the victory is a nice little confidence-booster for the lads.
"All-in-all, it was a good workout for everyone."
A few weeks after signing for the Club Hamshaw is settling into life at Meadow Lane very nicely indeed.
In fact he has hailed the professional and handling of Notts' pre-season programme to date, which currently sees the Magpies in Austria until the weekend at the National Sports Centre in Obertraun.
"Pre-season has been fantastic so far. With Marcus (Svensson - Fitness Coach) on board everything has been scientifically spot on," said Hamshaw.
"Everything has been really good and really professional. Things are good and the facilities at our training base are first class, and you can't ask for any more really.
"We have everything laid on for us here- and if you don't enjoy doing what we are doing now what chance have you got?
"There are no distractions, which means we're focused on football, pre-season and plenty of hard work."
If you are away from your computer over the summer for a few weeks or just a few days, you can keep up to date with the very latest from Meadow Lane on our Official WAP Website - in conjunction with nottscountyfc.co.uk. Our WAP site can be accessed from your mobile phone by simply visiting http://mobile.nottscountyfc.co.uk - so make sure you bookmark it!
