PHIL Brown admitted it was a difficult night for a young Kidderminster Harriers line-up at Tamworth on Tuesday.
A youthful Reds side, boosted by a handful of experienced first-teamers, fell 2-0 at last season's National League North champions.
Manager Brown said: “It was a very difficult test for the young lads and it was probably as difficult a test for the seniors that were in there though there were probably only three playing.
“We were asked some serious questions and the questions, for me, were probably synonymous with the questions we’ll be facing during the season.
"A hostile environment, supporters in your face, challenging for every ball and every decision — all of those things you’ve got to learn to deal with and I don’t think we did as much as we can do.
“We weren’t expressive enough and we didn’t deal with the conditions as well as I thought we could have done but for a fairly young team it was a harsh lesson for life in National League North.”
Ahead of the start of the campaign on Saturday, August 10 at Darlington, Brown continued: “The most important part of perspective is the reality of where we’re at in pre-season compared to the reality of what the first game’s going to look like.
“The first game will always be brutal, it will always be an encounter you’ve hopefully prepared for physically and mentally, but nothing prepares you for that first encounter until you’re in amongst it.
“I’ve got enough experience to know that and hopefully the young lads will take on board what I’m saying and trying to get them to appreciate.
“Tuesday night was certainly a rude awakening in terms of what we’re going to face.”
Former Hull City boss Brown had seen "plenty of pleasing signs" from his Harriers charges despite a first summer defeat at Mickleover last Saturday.
The visitors were beaten 2-1, with Ashley Hemmings scoring, despite creating many of the game’s opportunities.
Brown added: “There were still plenty of positives.
“Some of the young lads have got a huge chance of playing a huge part of this season’s success.
“We went with an under 25s team to an extent with the exception of Paul Downing.”
Harriers travel to Southern League side AFC Telford United on Wednesday night (7.45pm).
The first 2024-25 pre-season home friendly is on Saturday when League Two side Newport County visit Aggborough (2pm).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here