After two previous attempts, it was third time lucky as we got our first opening day victory in the EHWE League. However, what was more pleasing was the nature of the win and especially the resilience shown in the display.

After last season’s results against Christchurch, it would have been easy to go into this term’s opening match with a deal of complacency. However, close seasons can have a major impact at our level of football and the massive improvement in the Christchurch squad would have caused us huge problems if we had not prepared ourselves properly.

In a very even first half, we took time to get to grips with the pace of the match and the solidity of the new-look Christchurch team. There were very few chances at either end with both teams defending well and lacking cutting-edge in attack. Our set-piece delivery, which caused problems last season, was unusually poor and play broke down too many times in the attacking third. However, it was a very solid half defensively and built a good platform to work from.

We started the second half really well and the turning point in the game came after five minutes. A throw from the right was taken by Danny and flicked into the box by Mass. Tim James was the first to react in the penalty area and he slipped the ball past the ‘keeper for the opening goal of our campaign.

The goal seemed to sap the energy out of the opposition and in what may have been a hangover from last year’s performances, their heads seemed to drop. The second goal followed soon after and put us in a much more comfortable position. After we won back possession in midfield, Mass put Tom Gunning through on goal. He finished well and it was no more than we deserved after a great start to the second half.

We started to look more comfortable on the ball and the defence coped well throughout. For all their solidity in defence and creativity and strength in midfield, Christchurch seemed to lack a little in attack, but all attempts were snuffed out by our back four and a Man of the Match performance in goal from Zoltan. Even though he only had to make one save of note, his ability to take a cross and his kicking meant the defence were able to concentrate on their jobs with full confidence.

We went on to make the points safe with ten minutes to play, with the pick of the goals. Allan’s looping header put Tim in behind the defence and his excellent turn and half volley lobbed the ‘keeper and left him stranded as the ball went in off the inside of the far post.

The only major negative was the injury to Tommy McKinlay. He went off at half time with what looks like a recurrence of the injury that kept him out of the majority of last season. It was a major blow and could have caused us problems. However, Oisin came in and the defence coped really well with the changes.

Christchurch will win a lot more points this season and we will need to wait for a few games to see just how good this victory is. The third goal was a great way to cap the performance and leaves the team full of confidence for the trip to bogie side St Andrews next week.