The Magpies suffered a first pre-season defeat at The Avenue this evening in our final home friendly against Larkhall Athletic.
Two quickfire strikes in just three first half minutes put the visitors in front before Ieuan Turner's acrobatic volley pulled a goal back late on.
Following the win against Bemerton at the weekend, the starting XI was again rotated with Tom Bragg returning and a number of subs from Saturday including Jack Dickson, Corby Moore and Matt Buse coming in to start.
It was the visitors who struck first, opening the scoring through Dawid Regula with a low strike on 15 minutes.
Bragg nearly pulled the scores level almost immediately, but his volley from Moore's corner was hooked just wide. Just three minutes later however, Larkhall doubled their lead, Regula again the goalscorer for his second of the night with a close range finish.
Wes Fogden then had our best chance of the night so far, breaking forward down the right before seeing his strike deflected narrowly past the far post, before Luke Pardoe then fired wide from the edge of the area.
The visitors had to make a switch early in the second period, with the Larks keeper unable continue and having to be replaced by an outfield player.
In amongst a flurry of home substitutions, Olaf Koszela and Will Spetch both then went close, before sub Ieuan Tuner finally pulled a goal back on the 76th minute with a back post finish after Buse's flick on from a corner by Kozela.
The Magpies pushed forward for a late leveller, including a penalty shout after Wayne Robinson was caught by the replacement keeper in the area only to be waved away by the referee, however the Southern League Division One South visitors were able to see the game out.
Next up on Saturday is our final pre-season fixture away at Weymouth.
Starting XI: Forster; Dickson (Redknapp), Spetch (Hutchinson), Bragg (Turner); Koszela, Moore (Trialist), Ngalo (Wright), Pardoe (Samadi); Fogden (Roberts), Buse; Gwengwe (Robinson). Subs not used: N/A.
Referee: Simon Mitchem
Attendance: -