WORCESTER City travelled to Atherstone United today in good spirits after a successful first week of pre-season friendlies.

The St George's Lane outfit have two victories under their belt including an excellent 3-1 win at home to a Coventry City Xl with Mark Owen notching four of the goals.

Allan Davies has also bagged a brace and along with fellow new signings Jon Holloway and Matt Gardiner has enjoyed a successful start to their City careers.

For Gardiner the games were a chance to boost his fitness following a hernia operation and he has been impressed with the spirit at the club.

"The good thing is that the morale in the dressing room is good and it seems there is a good atmosphere and platform to build on," he said.

"I was impressed with the fans against Coventry, they got behind us and it was nice to see a Worcester win."

Coach Mick Tuohy is pleased with the progress of the new players and praised the combative Holloway, who he believes has a bright future at the club.

"I think he has got the opportunity to be a star at the club for years to come," said Tuohy.

"He's very quiet and just finding his way at the moment but his contribution and his work rate and application have been excellent and he has already started influencing people in the right way."

Tuohy has also been impressed with Owen's form and fitness since the summer break.

"He looks terrific and has spent a fair bit of time working on particular aspects of his game during the summer," he said after City's 3-0 win at Oldbury United.

"He had quite a rugged battle against some big Black Country lads and came through it and everybody was impressed with his contribution.

"This is a massive season for Mark. His ambition is to get back into the Football League and he deserves it.

"But as I've said before he needs to get to that next level of being stronger and more difficult to push off the ball and developing his all round game."