The reserve team's second pre-season match ended in defeat but overall progress was made according to reserve manager Brendan Rodgers.

In total 20 players were given match action against the senior Conference South side, managed by former West Ham midfielder Alan Devonshire.

Included in the Chelsea team in the second half was defender Michael Mancienne who has been training with the first team following two years on-loan at QPR. First year scholars Jeffrey Bruma and Jacopo Sala were also involved.

'The first-half we were very good,' reports Rodgers. 'We were good in possession, had penetration and had good speed to our game. The chances came but we missed the goals.

'In the second-half, those coming on found it difficult to get going in the first 10 minutes and during that period we conceded with what was the opponents' only chance of the game.

'After that we continued to dominate but it didn't really look like we would score.

'However it was a very worthwhile exercise. We have been training only two weeks, our movement and combination is improving every game but we need to do more work defensively.

'The number one objective is to make sure there are no injuries and our fitness levels improve game-by-game and that was certainly achieved.'

First-half side Rhys Taylor; Nana Ofori-Twumasi, Carl Magnay, Jeffrey Bruma, Patrick van Aanholt; Liam Bridcutt, Jacob Mellis, Daniel Philliskirk; Miroslav Stoch, Morten Nielsen, Lee Sawyer.

Second-half side Rhys Taylor (Niclas Heimann 70); Shaun Cummings, Liam Bridcutt, Michael Mancienne, Patrick van Aanholt (Tom Taiwo 65); Michael Woods, Sergio Tejera, Ricardo Fernandes; Fabio Ferreira, Morten Nielsen (Jacopo Sala 65), Mirolav Stoch.

The reserves have another friendly next Saturday away against Torquay, kick-off 3pm, before travelling to Slovenia where there will be a game against Hajduk Split. The pre-season preparation will be completed by double header home and away against Man United reserves.