LANGNEY WANDERERS 5 BILLINGSHURST 1 A New area began at the Lane today, with the 1st County league fixture, to mark an incredible rise for the Wanderers. Under the new management of Dave Shearing the Wanderers showed why they are being spoken about in many quarters as Dark horses in what promises to be a competitive Division 3 this season, by dismantling a Billingshurst side which each season is always on the fringes of the promotion picture in division 3 and that posses a side with lots of players who have played senior football in Division 2 or higher. Shearing was forced into a late change to the team sheet, when Mark Warren was delayed in getting to the ground, this meant Jamie Morgan was promoted from the bench to partner Paul Rogers in attack. The rest of the side was made of the players that were at the club last season, however there was a debut for Adam Sargent in the hosts goal. Less than 3 minutes had been on the clock when the Wanderers struck there first blow, Rogers curling the ball up and over Tom Betts in the Hurst goal from 20 yards out after he had mis-cued a clearance. The hosts were clearly buoyed by the early goal and there intensity and pace was difficult for Hurst to handle, the second goal duly arrived on the half hour mark and again it was Rogers. Adam Byrne played a racking 50 yard ball in behind the Hurst back line for the pacey Morgan to latch onto despite going through one on one with Betts he unselfishly squared for Rogers to slot into an empty net and deservedly double the Wanderers lead. Controversy was to follow 5 minutes later, Rogers turning from hero to Villain when he was dismissed for what appeared to be kicking out as he and a Hurst player's legs become tangled up after both competing for a tackle. The sending off rattled the hosts, so the half time whistle could not come soon enough, to give them time to regain there composure and re-group. And re-group they did, within 2 minutes of the re-start Mark Colemen cooly tucked the ball past Betts to make the score 3-0 and 3 become 4 on 52 minutes when Skipper Shane Saunders thundering header was glanced in by Jamie Morgan. Morgan's goal was nothing more than he deserved, having led the line on his own for the majority of the game. Shearing decided to ring the changes, Mark Warren replaced Carlo Hulme the latter being sacrificed more to protect him from a second yellow card, and Rikki Prodger replaced Jamie Morgan. It was Warren who the put icing on the cake for the Wanderers on 72 minutes with a trademark strike from the ace marksmen. Having chested the ball and with his back to goal he swivelled and volleyed the ball over Betts to make it 5-0. The hosts stepped off the gas in the closing stages and the disappointment in the home dugout was clear to see as the visitors struck a late consolation after sloppy play to prevent an opening day clean sheet. A proud day for everyone involved with the Wanderers, everything went to plan both on and off the pitch. Next up for the Wanderers is next Saturday when Ifield are the visitors to the lane. Adam Sargent, Tony Russell, Gianaluca De-Gaudo, Adam Byrne, Steve Hickman, Mark Coleman, Shane Saunders (c), Carlo Hulme (Mark Warren), Paul Rogers, Jamie Morgan (Rikki Prodger), Ben Saber (Tate Fly)
