NEW TEAMS - NEW SEASON OF 6 A SIDE IN RYDE

So good to be back to a 16 team league at Ryde Academy, making the most of the quality 3G playing surface to kick off another Thursday season of 6 a side with our teams. For some it was their 1st taste of action, for others it was a new division with fresh opponents but everyone who was there put in a great shift and the whole night was played in brilliant spirit with full respect of the officials as it should be. Well done to everyone for a very enjoyable 1st night of the campaign. 

Up first were a couple of our debutants and both had challenging 1st matches. In Division One, James and his Grand Theft Porto faced a strong looking Milfclarters side who must be one of the favourites to gain promotion if they can keep a consistent team each week. Two goals each for Flynn Jackman and brothers Isaac and Luke Glynn meant that the new Grand Theft Porto team left empty handed although Harry Brewer did open his account for the season to give them some consolation. 8 - 1 the final score and Milfclarters setting the early pace in Division One. 

Meanwhile on the adjacent pitch it was Prem Champions Sat Fesh that lined up with our other new side Kirbs Return. It's been a while since Kirbs have played at Ryde, we have had a new pitch laid since they did so facing the champs 1st up was a tough ask and despite taking an early lead they struggled to stay with experienced opposition and eventually went down 15 - 2. Val Isaac and Paddy O'Meara off to a flying start in the golden boot race with 5 each and only Ryan McDowall having any joy in front of goal for Kirbs who will look to bounce back and kick off their season next week against Roverners. 

Next up was last seasons runners up Guns N Moses who have done a bit of business in the transfer market in the off season to try and go one better this time round but they didn't get the start they would have hoped for with Ryde Galacticos starting their own season well and inflicting a 6 - 3 defeat on them. Joe Shaw bagged an opening night hattrick to leave Guns N Moses scratching their heads and having to regroup ahead of their clash with the champions next Thursday, will they bounce back and make up lost ground on the leading group? Sat Fesh might have other ideas, should be a great game either way. 

Back in Div One there was a clash of two of our longest serving sides in Butlins Bandits and Vectis Rovers, great to see teams keep going for so long in the league and it was quite a game between these two. Sam Utteridge scored two for Vectis but Aaron Doncaster had his shooting boots on and his brace along with goals from Josh Aspinall and Nick Chessell was enough to give Butlins the points this time, a good start for them while Vectis will have to wait to open their points scoring account. Great game though from both sides. 

Next we saw a match up of the prem's two relegated teams from last season as Chamakh and Royal Mail-Drid both settled into life away from the top flight. This was an amazing game, end to end action from the 1st whistle to the last and was brilliantly managed by our ref Josh. Both sides had great chances and both keepers made some quality saves, the score could have been anything but in the end it finished in a very fair 5 - 5 draw, so entertaining, we could have sold tickets to this one, great stuff from both teams who will hopefully have a much more enjoyable season in Division One. 

Unathletico Madrid joined the party late last season but clearly looked a well drilled side with some athletic players so despite finishing mid table we decided they were more suited to the top flight and it seems to have been the right decision. Against a decent, if slightly creaky knee'd Goldies team Callum Smith bagged a hattrick and Dan Johnson joined Szmon Sadel in netting a brace to give their team a 9 - 6 win to start the season. Goldies fought back well in the 2nd half and Jamie Dyer's 2 goals gave them something to take from the game but they would agree they were 2nd best this week and will look at next weeks game against the returning Netsix as an opportunity to register their 1st points. 

Roverners took a 5 - 0 points win as Netsix weren't able to start this week and unfortunately new side Hants FC couldn't join us last night so Khedira also had a 5 - 0 win to kick off their season but there was still a game played between the two teams and despite being a friendly both team played it in the right way, Roverners coming out on top to round off an excellent 1st night of the season.

Massive thanks to all the captains for getting your sides sorted for this weeks games, we go again next Thursday when we will have a full line up of 16 teams. The winners trophies and medals from last season will be presented next week so get you trims sorted if that's your team, can't wait to do it all again next week. Looks like a cracking season in the making!