Enfield Town begin the 2023-24 Isthmian League Premier Division campaign on Saturday, having ended pre-season on a winning note.

Gavin Macpherson's men host Concord Rangers this weekend, after claiming a 2-1 win over Mark Stimson's Grays Athletic for a fourth successive victory.

And Macpherson was pleased to see his side come through a physical test, telling the club website: "Stimmo's sides are always competitive. That side of the game is perhaps something we are short on.

"People like to see the football played, but 15 to 20 points a season will be won out of possession when you need to stand up and be counted.

"I appreciate we are not set up to play that way, but in a way this was the sort of game I wanted."

Goalkeeper Rhys Forster was injured during warm-up, after slipping in very wet conditions, with Adi Connolly taking up the gloves.

And Grays opened the scoring on 33 minutes when Sully Buchannon netted at the near post after Kyle Bailey's error.

Town were back on terms two minutes into the second half, though, as Scott Thomas fired home a stunning 25-yard effort.

And Sam Youngs netted the winner on the hour mark with a cheeky backheel finished, after a curling cross from recent signing Carlos Garcia-Velasco.

The Spanish right-back began his career in the fifth tier in Spain with CDA Navalcamero and initially joined on a dual registration with Welwyn Garden City towards the back end of last season.

"I was a bit grumpy at half-time which is not how I am very often," added Macpherson, whose side head to Potters Bar Town on Tuesday (August 15).

"We have to look after ourselves a little bit better when things get a bit more physical, and be better retaining possession.

“But two very good goals, we could have had more and the second half was a really good step forward from where we’ve been.”

*Enfield ensured their progress in the FA Cup with a win over Coggeshall Town on Sunday.

Aaron Greene and Sam Bantick netted either side of the break to secure a 2-0 victory in their extra preliminary round tie at Woodside Park.

And it means Jamie Cureton's men will head to Leighton Town in the preliminary round on the weekend of August 19-20, after starting their Isthmian North campaign at home against Grays Athletic on Saturday.