FINISHING their pre-season with a 5-2 triumph over Hexham, Prudhoe Town go into the new season full of optimism.

Manager Mattie Thompson has brought in a number of new faces to help progress the club up the table after a season spent acclimatising his young squad to senior football.

Once they found their feet, results and performances picked up and the signs are there that they can be more competitive this time around.

They endured a disastrous start to the 2014/2015 campaign when thumped 9-0 by champions Stockton Town on the opening day. At the back end of the season, they became the only team to beat Stockton when they won 2-0!

To help with the improvements, Thompson has brought in experienced midfielder Derek Waters, previously of Stocksfield, while Scott Palmer brings with him plenty of Northern League experience too.

As well as the Ponteland United duo of Wayne Dunn and Tom Little, brothers Tom and Jack Wanless, who play for Stocksfield‘s Sunday League side, have been brought in, as has defender Luke Atkinson, from Chopwell.

Off the field, Thompson will be aided by local lad Martin Kirsopp as his assistant who has been around Northern League set-ups for years.

The new faces are already doing the business, helping Prudhoe turn around a half time deficit of two goals to defeat Hexham in the Clayton Charity Cup with third place up for grabs.

Strikes from Lewis Loughhead and Marc Nixon put Hexham in the driving seat, but too many changes at the break disrupted their rhythm and Prudhoe went on to dominate.

Waters levelled things by successfully sending home a free kick then a penalty, with Connor Powell and the Wanless brothers finding the target to take it to 5-2.

Ahead of tomorrow’s tough trip to top three Horden CW, Thompson said: “We want to build what we started last year and finish higher in the league, and we think a top eight place would be an outstanding achievement.

”We’ve taken steps forward by strengthening the squad and playing a better brand of football, and we are more competitive.

“Building on the foundations we set last year, we are aiming to step up and finish in the top half and may be a good cup run too for good measure.”

Following tomorrow’s game with Horden, Town travel to Boldon CA on Wednesday evening and to Cleator Moor Celtic next Saturday.