A TOUGH run of pre-season games proved key for Pegasus Juniors as they showed their fitness and took an opening day 2-1 victory at Dudley Town.

Despite being put on the back-foot for parts of the game the last 10 minutes saw Mick Panniers side push forwards and seal a 76th minute winner.

Pegasus took the initiative from the outset and were gifted a 25th minute opener when Owen Giles gratefully intercepted a backpass to the goalkeeper and tapped home the opener.

However, after the break Dudley applied pressure and were eventually rewarded with Jordan Davies' 53rd minute leveller.

The hosts looked likely to seal a winner until the last 15 minutes when Pegasus showed their fitness and turned the tide.

Harvey Harris scored the winning goal by lobbing the goalkeeper from 25 yards out.

"It was a very good win to be fair," said Panniers.

"I'm not saying they are the best team in the world and they are probably going to be in the bottom half with us so those are the games we need to pick up points in.

"Barring two of our players the rest were teenagers so it was a good win and nice to get off to a great start. Last season we lost our first eight games so it has been an improvement on that.

"It was a decent performance and we worked hard in the heat. The good thing for us is that they were a very young side as well so we didn't get bullied.

"We tried saying to people that results didn't matter in pre-season but it's the work that people put in. That showed in the last 15 minutes when we were a lot stronger."

Pegasus will be looking to continue their momentum when they host Smethwick Rangers who were beaten 5-0 last weekend.

"Saturday is going to be a big game as they will be in and around us in the league so there are points to be taken there," added Panniers.

"And then we have got Lads Club on Monday which will be difficult as they have got a decent squad but we won there last years. It's a local derby and could go either way but we're looking to pick points up."