Bourne Town host AFC Mansfield in the United Counties League

Manager Michael Goode is hoping his promoted Bourne Town side will be able to compete rather than consolidate at the next level.

The Wakes begin life in the United Counties League Premier Division North on Saturday with a home match against AFC Mansfield at the JJ Mac Stadium (3pm).

It is the first time in more than a decade that the Wakes have played at step five of the non-league pyramid after emphatically winning the Division One title last season.

And, although admitting it might take time for the Wakes to hit their stride at the higher level, Goode is relishing the challenges ahead.

He said: "We're looking forward to it. The players and the club are ready.

"It is a bit of the unknown for us so we've just got to concentrate on ourselves and not worry about the opposition.

"We just have to play our way and hope that is enough to get something out of games.

"We want to win as many games as we can and see where that takes us.

"If you're persuading players to stay at the club or new ones to come and, even myself as a manager, you have to try and compete with everybody.

"We don't want to just consolidate - we want to compete. But we have to be mindful that there are a lot of clubs in this division who have been at this level for a lot longer and are more seasoned.

"It will take us five or six weeks to settle into this level and get up to speed with players being away and others struggling with injury.

"I think we will know where we are after six weeks and if the players we've got can step up to the next level and if the new ones can settle in and help take us to where we want to be."

The Wakes did suffer a pre-season setback with top goalscorer James Hill-Seekings sustaining a knee injury which will rule him out of the opening weeks of the campaign.

However, they have strengthened their ranks with four new signings in Martin Tudosa, Brad Marshall, Brad Gothard and Aaron Eyett while retaining the bulk of last season's title winning squad.

Full-back Tudosa has made the switch from neighbours Blackstones while towering centre-half Marshall started last season at Daventry.

Fellow defender Brad Gothard was with Newark Town and Harrowby last season while midfielder Aaron Eyett has joined from Deeping Rangers as the Wakes prepare for what Goode feels will be some unknown challenges at a higher level.

He added: "The new signings look good and we've got a good group of lads who are loyal to the club.

"We don't know much about this league though and, as always, there is so much change at clubs over the summer.

"Mansfield finished third-from-bottom last season but it looks like they have recruited five or six new players, including some from Clipstone who are step five quality players.

"You look at their results in pre-season and it's very hard to know what you're coming up against.

"The flip-side to it is that, although most of our lads have played step five football at some point in their careers, they have spent a period of time playing step six.

"We are babes in the woods so to speak. We're 14 years out of this level as a club, I'm five years out of it as a manager and there's players who are at least a season out of that level.

"It's a tough one to gauge but we're in good shape. Training has been excellent and we've had a decent pre-season."

After Saturday's home opener, the Wakes are back at the Abbey Lawn on Wednesday night when they entertain Wisbech Town.