BASHLEY boss Paul Morris believes his side’s early return to pre-season has already paid off.

Newly-promoted Bash proved too fit and well-drilled for Tom Killick’s Poole Town side despite the Dolphins sitting in the division above.

A double from summer signing Rafael Ramos followed Billy Lowes’ opener as the Hampshire side beat their Dorset counterparts 3-1.

Bashley’s ability to outrun their opponents stems from the fact Morris had his charges back in training six weeks ago, with players going through three sessions a week as Bash began their preparations for the Southern League return.

Reflecting on the game, Morris told the Daily Echo: “To be fair, I thought we were very professional with our performance. We looked fit.

“I know some of the lads might have moaned that already we started pre-season training, but now it is paying dividends, how fit we are.

“I think we looked very sharp and very professional today, so I’m really pleased.”

After securing promotion from the Wessex Premier last term, Bash quickly moved to bolster their squad ahead of their first Southern League campaign in six years.

Morris restarted: “We’ve signed about five or six new players and sometimes trying to get them to gel in with the training and everything like that, sometimes it’s hard work, but they’ve all actually just come in and we actually just gelled completely.

“You wouldn't think it's been five or six players added to the squad.

“I’m not just saying it because obviously Tubbsy (Matt Tubbs) he's been there and done it with football and that, but as a coach, what he does in the training side of it, the lads absolutely love it.

A”ll the lads buy into what we want as a club going forward and what our ambitions are.

“ So with the training side of it, with Leon (Scott) as well and obviously the goalkeeping coach (Stephen Sharkey) and Tubbsy, I couldn't ask for any more, really. They're superb for the training.”