It was the first chance Billings has had to get pitchside after joining the club in June and he saw his side struggle against a team from two leagues below.

But despite needing a last-gasp equaliser from Paul Stokes, Billings wasn’t worried that Rovers hadn’t performed as well as they could in their opening match.

“It was a typical rusty first performance,” said Billings.

“I wouldn’t say we were complacent but we went down there a couple of leagues higher on paper and they raised their game and made it difficult for us.

“It was a windy day but there are things to work on and there were some pluses in there so we will try to build on that.”

It was also the first chance new signings Jim Hollingsworth, Sam Holmes, Mark Abbs and Craig Cutts had to blend into the team.

Striker Paul Stokes also featured, netting the last-gasp equaliser in the process, and could sign for Rovers for a fifth time later this week.

Full-back Ryan Holder is another yet to put pen to paper but he should sign when he returns from holiday while former AFC Sudbury and Bury Town defender Mark Alder, 23, is on trial at the club and could feature in Saturday’s friendly with Halstead, at Hamlet Croft at 3pm.

AFC Sudbury manager Nicky Smith has also confirmed that Rovers’ injury-prone winger Neil Cogger is a player he is looking to sign, as revealed in the Echo last week.

Smith said: “He is a player I very much like and would look at playing wide left.

“He has a lot of pace and he scores goals.”

But any deal being struck will be dictated by how much Cogger can prove his fitness after coming back from two serious knee injuries in the last three years.

Smith added: “He has come to have a look at us and we have been having a look at him, but he is coming back from injury.”

n Saturday’s match report on Page 60.

n For information on Rovers’ Keith Willis Memorial Cup match with Hundon last night, go to www.haverhillecho.com.