Midfielder admitss Melton Town were well off the pace after Stamford thumping

Town trailed 5-0 at the break following a Jon Challinor brace and goals from Rob Morgan, Jack McGovern and Harry Limb.

“We didn’t really hit it off from the start, there were a few new players in the team, but we were nowhere near where we want to be,” he said.

“The side are all about working hard for each other and there just wasn’t any of that. We need to hit the ground running in the next game.”

It was the United Counties Football League side’s first pre-season friendly, with Hibbitt knowing his side must work harder going forward.

“There was a bit of game plan for the second half,” he added. “They were moving the ball around in the first half and we were getting nowhere near them.

“Tommy (Manship) and Nath (Nathan Arnold) got us together and said ‘get your jobs done’ and that’s where it comes from really.

“We are about working hard and work ethic. We did it in the second half.

“We have learned where we are fitness wide, we need to work harder and get fitter.”

Goalkeeper Quinn Johnson felt his side had shown some character in the second half.

“It was a tough first half, they scored a few good goals,” he said,

“We were better organised in the second half and fixed the issues. We kept a better shape in the second half and showed some reaction and character after what happened in the first half, which is good to see.

“We moved the ball better and created more chances. We showed we couple play in the second half.”