Rayners Lane chairman Martin Noblett says manager Mick Bradshaw has exceeded his expectations in his first season at the helm.

The former Chalfont St Peter coach has steadied the ship following a summer of change at Tithe Farm in the wake of the departure of former boss Dene Gardner.

Bradshaw was left with little to work with as only a handful of players from last season’s title-winning side stayed on for another crack at the Hellenic League Division One East.

But he has put a squad together of young, enthusiastic talents who are looking to make their name in football and the results have been better than Noblett had anticipated.

Noblett said: “Considering all of the upheaval at the club, I’ve been very pleased with Mick. To take on a side that was very disappointed not getting promotion last season, bringing in a lot of his own players and some players going elsewhere, I think he’s done quite well.

“A lot of the players are new to us this season and if you do go into a new set-up anywhere, it does take time to bed in.

“From that point of view I think Mick had done extremely well and I think the club’s in a strong position looking forward.”

Noblett made his expectations known to Bradshaw in the summer and was careful not to put too much pressure on the new Lane manager, simply asking him to lay the foundations for the club’s future growth,

Noblett added: “When I appointed Mick I told him he would need the whole season to bed in.

“I know he was very keen to put his best foot forward and finish high this season, but he has basically exceeded my expectations.

“I didn’t expect a particularly good season because of all of the upheaval and we wanted Mick to set up a platform over the course of the year.

“The organisational team behind Mick are very good and have made the club’s job so much easier because they are doing an exceptional job.”

Reece Chaudry was the only man in yellow to register a goal at the weekend though as the Lane were beaten 3-1 at home by Didcot Town Reserves.

Bradshaw’s side were last night (Wednesday) due to host Hanworth Villa Reserves in the Middlesex Premier Cup quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Wembley moved up to eighth in the Combined Counties Premier with three points against Ash United on Saturday.

It was the Lions’ first game of the year following the festive period and two quality goals proved the difference on the day at Vale Farm.

Tobi Oluberode smashed home the opener and Yassine Fehmi-Gil unlocked the Ash defence for a second time to secure victory.

Wembley’s Premier Challenge Cup third round clash with Chessington Hook was postponed on Tuesday evening.