Development coach Steve Weaver admits last night's trip to Newport might just have been "a game too far" after a busy recent schedule for his young side.
But on the plus side Weaver believes the squad will be that little bit more "match-hardened" after their first defeat of pre-season at the Newport Stadium.
A brace from Craig Reid clinched a deserved win for the Welsh side against a Development team many of whom were involved in their fourth game in nine days.
It was however another important workout when it comes to overall fitness levels ahead of a switch to more work on sharpness over the remainder of pre-season.
"With the way the lads have been training and the other games they have played it maybe just caught up with them a little bit last night," says Weaver.
"It might have just been a game too far which showed with a lack of sharpness and freshness that has been there before.
"It was the one game we looked at with the gaffer and the sports scientists and thought it might be difficult but at this stage it's still about endurance and the lads got another 90 minutes in the bank.
"That's the plus side - they've all come through it and are that bit more match-hardened as a result.
"They've now got a weekend to recover and while some may travel with the first team to Reading there's a week until our next game at Cheltenham on Friday.
"We can now get into the stage of pre-season where we'll be doing a lot more work on sharpness and there will be more recovery time and the lads have certainly been looking fit and strong."
Weaver also gave credit to a Newport side clearly boasting the potential to make their mark at Conference level after promotion last season.
"It was disappointing and lads were disappointed that they weren't able to affect the game as they might have liked but at the same time we have to give credit to Newport," he added.
"Dean Holdsworth has got them working really well and they are a confident side who play good football.
"I think they've certainly got the capabilities to do well in the Conference next season."
