Three 'n' Easy for United

Manchester United kick-started their season with a 3-0 home success over a youthful PSV Eindhoven. United always looked the dominant outfit and were to take the early initiative with a 14th minute goal. Wayne Rooney was the scorer as he found his range from some 25-yards with a corker, leaving Reina helpless in goal. Three minutes later and it was to be 2-0 with Owen Hargreaves finishing off some clever approach play by Ronaldo. An injury to Jonny Evans didn’t slow the United juggernaut down as they spent the majority of the game laying siege to the PSV goal. Darren Fletcher duly added a third on 65 minutes with a textbook header from a Ronaldo corner. PSV had little to cheer during the match and an injury to Yang Sheng Nanmeng only added to their pain. PSV press was realistic in their appraisal of the team, saying this defeat surely ‘won’t be the last’ as they look at a season of rebuild. Pakya’s Manchester United will have loftier ambitions after competing hard in the same section last term.

Reggae Reggae Sauce were also thumping winners on opening day as they gave Belly Tubbies a tough baptism of life in Division One. RRS began the season on the front foot as Woody Forrest fired in an effort before Christiano Torres took full advantage of a penalty kick to give them a 1-0 lead on 17 minutes. Pat van de Hauwe did his best to bring the Tubbies back into the game with a couple of late efforts in the half but they went into the sheds with a 1-0 deficit and an injury to Kevin Sheedy to deal with. The second-half saw Reggae Reggae Sauce dominate and an early long range effort by Derick Maley put the Tubbies firmly on the back foot. With Michael Fitzsimmons departing through injury the visitors were in damage limitation mode but they couldn’t stop Mervyn King adding a third goal in injury-time with a neat finish in the penalty area. Both sides will realise that reading too much into opening day can be dangerous but there’s no doubting which camp you’d rather be in following the game.

Kensington Boys Club began with an impressive 2-0 home victory over Villarreal. A 3rd minute goal by Eustace Bayley laid the foundations for the win as he headed home an in-swinging corner by Charles Tilly. KBC went on to dominate the remainder of the half although finishing from Max Myer left a lot to be desired even if Bayley was unfortunate not to add to the lead with a header which struck wood. Villarreal struggled to get into the game after the break and had to survive a scare with a Jacobs effort striking a post. Seymore MacRanald did manage to add a second goal with another header from a corner before Villarreal rallied late on. Shuttlewood, Morgan and Almeida all going close but it wasn’t to be for the first season champions. Cathal was quick to say ‘well done’ to Patrik on his win but will be keen his Villarreal side find their form quickly. KBC look to be progressing nicely and Patrik was happy that they held onto the ‘lead despite some fierce pressure.’

Eaglesrjh will be one manager sure to have high ambitions this season and his side started in solid fashion with a 1-0 away win at Pahang United. The first-half was a quiet affair with both teams feeling each other out. The only chance came via a Murray Irwin header which forced Hussain into a smart save. Irwin then was forced off injured as the sides went in without any more scares. The Vikings did manage to secure the lead with their opening chance of the second-half. Evstathios Gourmas was the provider as he sent over a delightful cross which was headed in by Clint Bonavia. With Pahang now forced to chase the game chances became more regular. It was the visitors who looked more threatening, though, as Bonavia and Branston were unfortunate to be denied by the woodwork. Strongbow couldn’t find his shooting boots at the other end as he wasted Pahang’s opportunities and the points would be returning to Viking Land. TBFC said after the game that ‘the players are still in good form’ and they are now focussing on their match against Manchester United. Eagles was happy that his side ‘nicked a win with minimal preparation’ as his side look to put together a promotion campaign.

A St Omer side with an average age of 19 put in a performance beyond their years to take a point in a 2-2 draw against AJ Rovers. Things didn’t start well for the hosts as Leigh Roberts headed Rovers into a twelfth minute lead. Roberts might have added to the lead on 28 minutes but there was no indication of what was to come after the break. Indeed, things might have gotten much worse for Omer had Tabaranu’s effort not been disallowed for a doubtful offside at the beginning of the second-half but they did eventually find themselves 2-0 down. A free-kick by Fedor Erastov flew into the roof of the net and looked like giving Rovers the perfect start to the season. Omer were beginning to find their attacking rhythm, though, and Tottee and Radders both gave Rovers a scare. The game was to have a dramatic finish as Roberto da Luz made himself a folk hero. A shot in the penalty area on 78 minutes halved the deficit before he was on hand to turn in a corner deep into stoppage-time to ensure both teams would begin life in Division One with a point. There’s no doubt that ConyTottee will be the happier of the managers but it’s fair to say that he still has a season of hard work ahead of him. Rothion, meanwhile, will be keen to instil a killer instinct to his team after building a match-winning lead only to throw it away.

Newry City opened up with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Kirkbride Strollers. Stan Collymore had already gone close before Clint Dickson hit a powerful long range shot into the net on 14 minutes. Kirkbride also had their moments during the opening half but Fraser Symington couldn’t quite find a finishing touch. The game remained open after the break but it was Collymore who would make his chance count with a neat finish in the penalty area. The Strollers were more than matching their hosts but, yet again, their finishing let them down as Sinoda and Symington misfired. The result of which was a 2-0 home victory which left the fans going home very content. Jazza1958 will know, though, that the margin between defeat and victory in this game was very slim and will be hopeful his side can turn this round against the Tubbies on Friday.