Iron goalkeeper Joe Anyon was happy that the team’s game plan paid off during the friendly on Tuesday night in Hartlepool.
United ran out comfortable 4-0 winners, and the intensity from the team from the off was something to be admired.Following the conclusion of the match, Anyon said: "To get the result like that and play the way we did, it really raises the confidence of the squad."
The team had only just returned from a gruelling week of training in the sun in Marbella.
Talking about pre-season camp, Anyon said: "We had to put the hours in over in Marbella. It's not been a holiday, it was graft and I think that showed by the performance on Tuesday night."
While in Marbella a behind-closed-doors match was arranged with Middlesbrough, and Anyon believed the team had plenty of positives to take from the match, adding: "There's lots of good players there on big contracts but we more than held our own on Saturday.
“Our shape looked good (against Middlesbrough) and we kept our discipline. They struggled to break us down."
Anyon has made it no secret he believes the team can push up the table this year by saying: "It's a big season for us and everyone knows that by the signings we've brought in. We should be there or there about this year,
"It's about the team. We're a close knit group and we want to work for each other, so it's going to be a good season."
Describing his personal game, he was happy to be back playing football more regularly, and hopes to push Luke Daniels all the way for the number one spot: "It's my third game in over a year with me being out through illness so I'm enjoying my time on the pitch.
"All I can do is keep putting the pressure on and hopefully get myself in the first team if I can."
See much more from Joe Anyon on The Iron Player HD.