Team: Chris Brownbridge, Simon Rix, Andrew Jordan, Peter Keogh, Tim Wickham, Pete Anderson, Tom Payne, Paul Gibbs, Eddie Jack, Lee Newton, James
Subs: Jonathan Richards, Sean Loftus, Ben

Easton kicked off the new season with a good win against South Walsham who had been relegated last season from the 3rd Division. As always seems to be the case at this time of the season, we were missing Neil Moggan, Steve Shaw and Stuart Halton due to holidays and we were also let down by a late call off 2 hours before kick off. This meant that manager Eddie Jack was able to get his first start as was our new striker James. (Sorry mate, haven't got your surname!)

South Walsham kicked off and the 2008/09 season was underway. Almost immediately Easton made the breakthrough. Lee Newton wriggled through the opposition penalty area and was clearly brought down. Simon Rix stepped up and calmly side-footed the ball past the keeper to give Easton the lead. Easton then had to weather a storm as Walsham pressed for an equaliser however a resolute Easton defence held firm. Eddie Jack also went close with a rising drive however he unfortunately missed the target by inches. Lee Newton was working well up front and was causing problems by dropping slightly deeper with James the ever willing runner up front stretching space. He almost doubled the lead with a great hit before the end of the half but it again flew just wide of the upright.

So half time came and Easton were holding out and playing well although with just 2 minutes gone of the second half, keeper Chris Brownbridge picked up his first booking of the season and conceded a penalty. He’ll have felt he should have done better however he made amends but producing a great full stretch diving save to keep Easton in the lead. From the resulting corner he also produced a magnificent punch and clattered the opposition forward. More of the same next week Chris! Easton then doubled their lead through Lee Newton after Tom Payne had got away with a dubious high boot. Everyone thought the referee would blow his whistle however Lee Newton ran through a static Walsham defence before rounding the keeper to slot home. The frustrations of not getting the decision showed and one Walshm player was sent off for two bookable offences for over protesting. He managed to pick up the first for swearing at the ref and the second for threatening behaviour.

To Walshams credit they kept battling on and it wasn’t evident that they had been reduced to 10 men. Easton though eventually added a third although again it was slightly controversial. Lee Newton appeared to have fouled a player just outside the opposition box however as the player fell he handled the ball. The referee didn’t deem the challenge a foul and gave the handball. The Walsham goalkeeper left his line to protest however Lee Newton spotting an empty goal put the ball down and lofted the ball into the open net. There was still time at the end for a couple more chances. Pete Anderson hit a half volley inches wide and Peter Keogh should have done better with a header from a couple of yards out. Tim Wickham also managed to loft a shot wide right at the death however in the end it was a comfortable victory and sets us up nicely for next weeks visit from Marlingford.