Ross County are ticking along nicely as their preparations for the new season stepped up a level on Saturday.
New signing Jordi Balk impressed in the role of midfield enforcer in front of the back four as goals from Rocco Quinn, Richard Brittain and Yoann Arquin secured the win for the Staggies against Elgin City at Borough Briggs.
Adams is pleased with the progress his new-look side is making as County count down to the Scottish Premiership opener on August 9.
He said: “Some of the players only arrived here recently, so it is taking the team time to come together, but we are away to Holland next weekend for a week and that will help us greatly.
“We have got three more games before the start of the season in Clach, Nairn and FC Twente, so we have to get ourselves to a situation where we have our starting 11 in mind for the first game of the season.”
New signing Tim Dreesen partnered Scott Boyd in central defence with Balk, who joined Dreesen and Ben Frempah in signing with the club on Friday, playing the holding role in a 4-1-4-1 formation and Adams was pleased with the Dutchman’s display in an unfamiliar role.
He said: “Jordi can play in front of the back four. He doesn’t know that yet but he has good passing ability as he showed in the game. Everybody fitted in well and looked composed and once we got our tempo going we looked strong.”
With two of the other three players on trial at the club impressing in their full-back roles, Adams is planning on taking his guests with him to Holland this weekend.
County opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Arquin beat City trialist Damian Wojczik down the right before whipping in a low ball for Quinn to hammer home.
The Staggies doubled their lead early in the second half when Balk set up captain Brittain who sent a low drive past Michael Fraser in the Elgin goal from 25 yards before substitute Joe Cardle crossed for Arquin to power a header past his former County team-mate to complete the scoring.
City were without captain Jamie Duff, midfielder Brian Cameron and forwards Craig Gunn and Dennis Wyness for the game and the loss of their experience was telling for the Black and Whites.
But City manager Barry Wilson was pleased with his side’s showing against Premiership opposition.
He said: “We’ve got a few to add to the squad who played and I’m really looking forward to picking my best 11 when everyone is fit and available.
“The result is irrelevant but we passed the ball well against a decent side and I was happy with the performance.”