After a tough workout in their opening pre-season friendly against Southampton, Farnborough produced a solid display to see off Maidenhead United at Cherrywood Road on Saturday.

The Blue Square South side represented much more of a realistic challenge for Francis Vines’ men, and Boro did not disappoint with two well-worked goals to clinch a promising victory.

Michael Charles scored his first goal since returning to the club after just two minutes, and Mark Gamble capped off a superb move to put Boro 2-0 ahead.

Although they conceded a soft goal before the break to let Maidenhead back in the game, Boro saw out the second half without alarm to continue their pre-season preparations with a deserved win. 

Even after just one game under their new boss, Boro showed signs of improvement from last week’s clash with the Saints, and Vines was particularly pleased to see his team take on board what they had worked on in training last Thursday night.

“After Tuesday we had a little chat with the boys about a few things that we didn’t feel were quite right,” he said. “It was mostly to do with keeping our discipline defensively.

“We were hoping to see a few of those things picked up today, and it just shows what an intelligent group of players they are that they picked up three or four of those things.

“That was good to see and we will add a couple more things this week, and keep adding to their game so that by the end of pre-season they will be doing these things naturally.”

Vines made four changes to the side that lost 4-0 last week, with Will Salmon and Ian Oliver coming in at the back, and Paul Harkness starting up front with Charles.

There was a surprise for the fans as ex-Farnborough Town centre-back Nick Burton was also named in the starting line-up. The 33-year-old is on trial and looking to stake his claim for a place in the Vines’ BGB Southern Premier squad.

Boro made a flying start to the game as they took the lead after just two minutes, when Ryan Scott clipped a long ball down the right flank for Gamble to chase. The flying winger checked back onto his left foot and swung in a superb cross, which Charles nodded home brilliantly to remind everyone exactly what they had missed in his brief spell away from the club last season.

There was disappointment moments later, when Salmon went down with a twisted ankle. The former Aldershot Town and Fleet Town defender had to be helped from the field and is likely to miss at least the next two weeks of training.

Boro continued to pass the ball well as the visitors struggled to impose themselves on the game, and it was no surprise when they doubled their lead after 20 minutes.

And it was even better than the first as David Ray picked out Harkness in space and he laid the ball off neatly to Gamble. The Northern Irish youngster burst in off the right-hand side and fired home a low drive from the edge of the box past a stunned Shane Gore in the Maidenhead goal.

The tempo dropped a little after that, allowing Maidenhead to gain a foothold in the game, and they scrambled a fortunate goal when Chris Tardif appeared to spill the ball under pressure from Jermain Hind. Boro appealed for a foul but the referee remained unmoved, and Richard Pacquette smashed the ball home into the roof of the net.

The second half was a somewhat more tepid affair, as both sides rang the changes.

Boro nearly extended their lead when substitute Darren Wheeler whipped in a dangerous cross, which first Charles and then Ray just failed to latch onto.

The arrival of Marcus Richardson after 53 minutes pleased the 300-strong crowd, but he had little impact on the match, except for a couple of missed headers, and winger Michael Barima also made his first appearance of pre-season.

The rest of the match passed without alarm, with Maidenhead only threatening when Oliver inexplicably lost control of the ball at left-back, but substitute striker Steve Barnes fluffed his lines after being closed down quickly by Tardif.

The referee brought an unspectacular second half to a close and Boro move on with a confidence-boosting win under their belts as they take on Blue Square Premier local rivals Woking at Cherrywood Road tomorrow (Tuesday, kick off is at 7.45pm).

Boro: Chris Tardif, David Ray, Ian Oliver, Nick Burton, Will Salmon (Luke Evans, 7 mins) (Liam Pestle, 58), Ryan Scott, Rob Saunders (Michael Barima, 45), Mark Gamble (Darren Wheeler, 45), Paul Harkness (Marcus Richardson, 53), MICHAEL CHARLES (Connor Hamilton, 70), Nic Ciardini.

For a full match report, more reaction from VInes and the Boro manager's thoughts on tomorrow night's game with Woking, pick up a copy of Tuesday's Mail.