The Angels grabbed maximum points on the opening day of the season for the first time in three years on Saturday when they overcame a poor Hendon side at Claremont Road. An 11th minute debut goal from Andy Martin was enough to ensure the Angels kicked off life back in the Ryman Premier Division in the best possible way.

Player-boss Tony Dolby began the new campaign with a traditional 4-4-2 formation with Ray Powell reverting to right-back alongside John Beales, skipper Steve Aris and Jon Heath. Scott Gooding was tested out on the right flank while Robbie Kember, Alex O’Brien and Fraser Logan made up the midfield quartet. Andy Martin started alongside Jon Main as the chosen strikeforce.

The Angels came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders and were nearly ahead as early as the fifth minute when Jon Main dodged a couple of challenged before seeing his low effort thwarted by the legs of goalkeeper Wilmott. Just minutes later, the visitors did find themselves ahead thanks to a well-worked move that was expertly finished off by debutant Martin. A long ball from Steve Aris found Scott Gooding who got to the ball before it ran out of play and squared it to the ex-Crystal Palace striker who made no mistake in tucking it away. The hosts’ defence was all over the shot and the lead should have been doubled but Robbie Kember was unable to get any power into his header. Gooding had the last real effort of note in the first half when his cross come shot had to be diverted for a corner. The Angels lead 1-0 at the interval.

In all honesty not many chances were carved out in the second period. Hendon were starting to gradually get more involved in the game but never forced a decent save out of Aaron Kerr who was virtually a spectator. The partnership of Jon Main and Andy Martin were substituted deep into the second half and were replaced with the pace and youth of Adam O’Neill and Luke Piscina. Both nearly got on the scoresheet almost immediately after being introduced. O’Neill turned 25 yards out and drilled a shot which had Wilmott scrambling in the home goal whilst Piscina’s glancing header from a Fraser Logan corner narrowly skimmed the top of the bar. The Angels held on comfortably to gain all three points and open their account in style.

The reporter’s Man of the Match was given to goalscorer Andy Martin. His partnership with Jon Main is really starting to come to fruition and capped off a superb display with the neat winning goal.

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