....Sydenhams Football League (Wessex) League season got underway with a full Premier Division programme.

The Premier Division got underway on Friday evening with an attendance of 160 at Hamble Club for the visit of Lymington Town.

Last season’s encounter produced 8 goals but this time round neither side could find the net and after a spirited 90 minutes, both clubs seemed happy with a point.

On to Saturday and Sholing were quick to show their title credentials with a 4-0 win at Bemerton Heath Harlequins, never the easiest place to get a point.

Dan Mason was quickly back in the goalscoring groove with a hat-trick and the evergreen Lee Wort claimed the fourth. 

AFC Portchester were also among the goals on the opening day with a 5-2 defeat of Team Solent and five different scorers, including new signings Mike Turvey and George Hallahan.

Brockenhurst and Bournemouth FC continued their long-standing rivalry with honours even in a 1-1 draw and there was a good win for Cowes Sports.

The Islanders struggled last season but a 3-0 win over Hamworthy was a superb tonic.

Ji Nash, moving up and across from East Cowes Vics, scored twice with John McKie adding the third.

Club stalwart Lewis Whyton scored the only goal of the game to give Portland United all three points against Alresford Town at the Grove, while Shaftesbury and Baffins Milton Rovers could not muster a goal between them in Dorset.

This just leaves the three promoted clubs who managed two wins and a loss on day one.

Christchurch gained a very praiseworthy win at Horndean, courtesy of two goals from Scott Joyce, with both sides reduced to ten-men in the course of the game, and Tadley came back from conceding a goal in the first minute to defeat Fareham Town 3-1 at Barlows Park with Brett Denham almost inevitably among the scorers.

Not such a good start for Andover New Street as their first game at his level saw them go down 2-0 at a very warm Bashley - a goal in each half giving the Foresters the points.

John Gorman