Martyn Rogers' second stint as Tiverton Town manager began with a win following a 2-0 success away to Crediton United on Thursday night.
A delightful finish from Jamie Mudge in the first half and a firm header from Steve Goss in the second saw the Yellows home against their South West Peninsula League Division One hosts.
Ring-rust and a lack of match practice was evident from both sides, but Rogers declared himself satisfied with what he saw.
"It was food for thought. There were certainly some good points," he said.
"We needed to give everybody a run-out and get a good look at all of the lads who had been training.
"We looked fairly rusty at the start of both halves really and took a while to get any rhythm going. It was hard to get any cohesion but I knew it would be in our first game."
After a frenetic opening 15 minutes which the hosts edged, Tivvy started to establish themselves, with returning striker Owen Howe shooting straight at the keeper from Jake Wannell's cross after a neat move down the right.
Rogers has spoken of Mudge's need to prove his fitness to earn a permanent move, but he demonstrated that his finishing instincts remain as sharp as ever as he curled a beautiful effort into the top corner after half an hour.
Goalkeeper Chris Wright – another player returning for a second spell at the Ladysmead club – then pulled off a fine save late in a half in which he had precious little else to do.
Rogers made 11 changes at half-time, and Crediton did their best to be unaccommodating hosts as they attacked the start of the second period with real gusto and intent.
But again the higher-league side gradually imposed themselves, with Goss' header from a free-kick shortly after the hour effectively ending the contest.
"We need to start whittling down the squad for the Truro and Port Vale games so we know who we are going with," said Rogers, who takes his side to Willand Rovers on Saturday.
"We need to start getting an idea of the squad we want for those games and for the start of the season."
