Waltham Abbey began the Martin Hayes reign with a 4-1 win over Stansted on Saturday

The Abbots got off to the ideal start under new boss Martin Hayes and are at home to St Albans on Saturday, July 25.

Fellow Isthmian Division One North outfit Redbridge were also in action on the weekend, starting their pre-season schedule with a 3-2 away win at Harold Wood Athletic.

The goals came from Joe Dent, James Dobson, and Lewis Francis. The Motormen's next game is away to Bower and Pitsea on Tuesday, July 21.

Waltham Forest, of the Essex Senior League, started their pre-season with an entertaining 4-4 draw at Colney Heath on Wednesday.

They host Woodford Town on Saturday.

Redbridge battle with Stansted in pre-season. Picture: Dave Loveday

Newly-promoted Essex Senior League side Wadham Lodge brushed aside Westhamians 7-1 on Saturday in a routine pre-season friendly win at Kitchener Road.

Lodge went into the game on the back of a 5-2 defeat to Snaresbrook the previous Saturday and were keen to improve as they prepare for the new season.

Despite the positive scoreline assistant boss Neil Day did not want to look into the result too much.

He said: "Sometimes you learn more from defeat than from a convincing victory."

On Tuesday Lodge continued that positive momentum with a 3-0 success over Buckhurst Hill.

Lodge face Galleywood and Newbury Forest in a triangular tournament at Kitchener Road this Saturday in memory of club chairman Martin Fitch’s parents, Reg and Pauline.

Coach Day added: "Obviously we want to put on a good show for Martin but there will also be one eye on experimenting and gelling the players available, we have Broxbourne and Hoddesdon coming up in friendlies and hopefully by then a team will be shaping up with a view to being competitive in the season’s opening fixtures.”