Kenilworth Wardens first team preseason got back on track following their narrow 3-2 loss to Leamington Hibs, with a 4-1 win against a strong Coventry Phoenix side. 

The game started off in an even fashion, despite Phoenix having more possession of the ball. 

Wardens opened the scoring on 20 minutes when captain James Butler won an interception deep in his own half and passed to player-manager Eamonn Richards. Richards turned with space and played a long through ball to the excellent Dan Twigger who outpaced his defenders and beat the goalkeeper to the ball on the edge of the box and excellently volleyed home. 

Wardens doubled the lead on 30 minutes. Again Butler made an interception deep in his own half before releasing Twigger with an excellent through ball into the channel. the forward ran to the byline, beat his man before running into the six yard box. Twigger faked to pass the ball to the free Adam Hnat before completing an outrageous backheel shot, fooling the Phoenix keeper. 

Phoenix continued to put pressure on Wardens but first team debutants Alex Cockburn and James Wilding were excellent at centre half stopping the Phoenix attacks. Goalkeeper Tom Day was called into action on three occasions, making comfortable and impressive saves. 

On 40 minutes Phoenix pulled a goal back. Their left winger beat two players before his powerful shot from 25 yards snuck in at the near post. 

In the second half Phoenix continued to put pressure on Wardens for the equaliser but the Kenilworth defending and organisation kept the game at 2-1.

On 75 minutes Wilding stopped an attack before passing back to Tom Day. Day waited to be pressed before playing to Ryan Oldham in space at right back. Oldham's inch perfect pass down the line found Charlie Waters, who ran to byline and crossed to a free Twigger at the back post. Twigger's flying volley was directed back to Hnat 15 yards out who smashed home into the top corner.

On 80 minutes wardens made it 4-1. Richards uncharacteristicly won a tackle on the half way line and passed to Hnat who played through Cockburn. Despite looking offside, the flag stayed down and Cockburn raced through, rounded the Phoenix keeper before calmly finishing. 

"We've had a lot of personal changes and it's completely different look and feel from last year and it's really exciting," Richards said after the game.

"That was as good a performance as I can remember and better than any performance we had last season. New players James Wilding, James Clay, Alex Cockburn and Tom Day were all excellent. Twigger was also unplayable and really stepping up in the hole that has been left with Buckley, Legg, Pearson and Edmunds not playing this year.

"But everyone was an 8/9 out of 10 today against a superb and talented Cov Phoenix side.

"The only negative is Mark Lynas injury, who was looking like an excellent addition to the team and hopefully he won't be out for too long. 

"Also wanted to say congratulations to Ben Edmunds for signing for Warwick Racing, although we're all gutted he won't be with us this season he deserves his chance at a higher level and I'll now be an ardent Racing supporter every time he enters the pitch!"