Prime were confident of securing their first win of the year against struggling Paddock Wood Reserves at Cadogan. They would have to do so without key midfielder Pete Henshall who was up north for a family birthday. Coleman stayed in central midfield alongside captain Abu, with Barker restored up front.

In the only other change to the starting XI, Phil Chapman made a welcome return alongside Barker having re-signed for the club. He replaced Goldsmith who was struggling with man-flu! Gilbert was joined on the bench by Goldsmith, the fit-again Mazurkiewicz and Marcus Lowe - another newcomer.

Paddock Wood turned up with only 9 players and looked set for a long afternoon - but to their credit they were well in the game in a lacklustre first half performance from The Numbers.

From the first whistle, it was one way traffic but the visitor's defence was well organised and Prime were guilty of rushing passes and shooting from distance when a pass would have been the better option.

Prime finally made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark when Sander's deep cross was brought down well by the hard-working Flamank and his shot found the net despite the best efforts of the keeper.

Prime may have thought the floodgates would open but Chapman's efforts from the edge of the box were the best that the home team could muster.

With just a 1 goal cushion, Paddock Wood grew in confidence and forced a couple of corners and free-kicks - but Kerton remained largely a spectator.

At the break, Goldsmith urged patience from his side as obviously the visitors would tire and space would open up - and so it proved.

Straight from the kick-off Barker and Chapman both went close but then minutes later, the two strikers combined with Barker's cross tapped home by Chapman from point-blank range.

It was 3-0 soon after as Chapman's long throw was nodded in by Cary at the near post. Sander and Barnham were both withdrawn with Lowe joining the action in central midfield and Gilbert on at right-back. Coleman moved out to the right-wing.

Prime were starting to get in to gear and with Lowe and Abu pulling the strings it was soon 4-0 when Barker nodded home a corner from the right.

It had been a largely frustrating afternoon for Barker with several near-misses - but he made up for lost time by smashing home number 5 soon after.

Mazurkiewicz made a welcome return after 3 months on the sidelines with injury. He replaced Coleman down the right-wing and produced several dangerous crosses and showed off some previously unseen silky skills! From one of his crosses, Flamank cut the ball back and Abu bundled the ball over the line.

With 15 minutes still left on the clock, Prime really should have added more goals but Chapman, Lowe and Cary all shot high over the bar before Cary managed to put a header from roughly one yard out over the bar with the goal begging.

It did not really matter as Prime survived a couple of late scares to secure a clean sheet and a comprehensive win.

A lot of credit must go to Paddock Wood's 9 men who battled manfully and if they had a full 11 of the same ability then it may well have been a different story.