Ashton Prime began their new era with a super team performance against Capel. After a reorganisation of the leagues, The Numbers were experiencing Div 1 for the first time. The mood was buoyant pre-match and management was clearly stressing Sykes out after a couple of rants about signing on forms.

With Cadogan unavailable until early October, Prime played at the slope of Colebrook. The Numbers were still searching for a goalkeeper so gaffer Sykes took the gloves with a back four of Buckland, Cary, Goldsmith and Flamank and a midfield of Excell, Henshall, Abu and debutant Taylor. Prime set up to keep the ball and hassle their opponents. Abraham and Ferguson began their second game up front together hoping to break their ducks.

The game started with Prime kicking down the slope and Flamank typifying the team performance winning lots of first and second balls, battling for everything. The game was a typical first game of the season encounter with neither team wanting to give too much away.

Capel played a number of long balls which were easily dealt with by centre halves Cary and Goldsmith with Sykes providing back up as a sweeper keeper. While Prime played some neat football through midfield they were limited to a couple of long range shots from Abu and Taylor.

It looked very much like the game would be 0-0 at the break until Abraham and Ferguson combined and Ferguson flicked the ball over the keeper.

Sykes rallied the team at half time with his monotone speech getting plenty of stick. With Prime kicking uphill they knew they were going to have to work hard to get off to a winning start.

The second half started with a Prime kick off and skipper Abu felt the need to try and run around the whole team and when he was dispossessed after only beating one man, Capel broke down the hill and split the defence and it looked like it could have been 1-1 only for the Capel striker to see his strike tipped round the post by Sykes.

This should have served as a wake-up call to the hosts but only a few minutes later Sykes found himself called into action again - this time making a save that could have graced many a back page on Sunday morning - more for his theatrics after he'd made the save than for the save itself!

With the Prime defence making many blocks and last-ditch challenges and Sykes producing a string of fine saves it was unfortunate when their resolve was broken after a slip by Goldsmith left Capel's striker clean-through and he lobbed the stranded Sykes from 20 yards.

Prime almost struck back immediately with Pete Ferguson when he chased a long ball down, stole it off the defender and then rounded the keeper with the goal gaping and Prime surely going 2-1 up - but the tall striker somehome screwed the ball high and wide with his left foot.

Fortunately for The Numbers they weren't made to pay for the miss. Debutant Abraham made way for fellow new player Siekanka who came on and put away a tidy volley after good work from Abu.

Meanwhile the crowd showed their appreciation for club legend Dave Barnham as he came on for Taylor at right midfield. The game was then put to bed when a Capel defender handled in the area and Excell moved quicker than he did all game to pick up the ball and put it to the keeper's left hand side.

There was still time for a couple more Capel attacks but the home side's defence stayed strong and Prime ran out 3-1 winners.

All in all an excellent team performance and on this showing and other results in the league it would suggest Prime will acquit themselves well this season.