....their season with a bang at the expense of Great Baddow, who shipped five goals in their maiden Premier Division match.

Rob Whitnell scored twice with Charlie Hazelwood, King Amieye and Scott Williams also on the scoresheet.

Rayleigh Town also made an impressive start to their campaign, but whatever was said in the Manford Way changing room at half-time almost salvaged a point!

Leigh had gone in at the break three goals to the good as Harry Talbot, George Dansie and Finley Dopson all wasted no time in scoring their first goals of the new campaign.

But Manford Way put in a much more spirited performance in the second period and were able to score twice to reduce arrears. Scott Plom scored his first goal of the season which handed Leigh Ramblers an opening day 1-0 win at Canning Town.

Catholic United claimed their first piece of silverware when they won the Senior Challenge Cup on Saturday – in some style too.

The annual curtain raiser pits the previous season’s Premier Division winners with the Senior League Cup winners.

Frenford Reserves stepped in as their senior side now competes in the new Step 6 division and were handed a 7-1 beating as Brodie Horne and Tom Kearney both bagged braces with Tom Hollingsworth, Louis Robinson and Max Kent also finding the target.

The Premier Division champions will no doubt be looking to add more trophies come the end of the season.

Scott Lanza