After a mixed pre-season, Prime got their league campaign up and running by hosting Roselands Reserves at 'Fortress' Cadogan.

After a busy summer in the transfer market, new signings Steve Turvey and Dave Fitzgerald both made their first competitive starts as Prime lined up in a 4-5-1 formation with Ferguson the lone striker - supported by Westcott playing in the hole and Sykes and Henshall from the flanks.

With Sander absent, Rich Davis became the 2nd Prime player to appear for the club in his 40's while the other full-back Greg Mazurkiewicz made his 100th appearance for Prime.

With Roselands' first-team match having been postponed, it was anyone's guess as to how many first-team players would drop down, but Prime started on the front foot regardless.

Sykes and Henshall were seeing plenty of the ball in the early stages and Prime should have gone ahead when Abu had his first shot saved by the Roselands keeper but then hoisted the rebound over the bar with the goal gaping.

He made amends soon after though. Ferguson used his strength to hold the ball up and laid the ball into the captain's path and he took a touch before finding the bottom corner.

Roselands had survived for 15 minutes, but they were 2 behind almost immediately as Sykes' cross-shot sailed over the keeper and dropped under the crossbar.

The goals settled Prime down and with the midfield trio playing triangles between them, Prime were creating chances at will - but Westcott's left-footed pile-driver was well held by the keeper and then from Kerton's perfect long ball, Abu decided to duck out of a header from the edge of the 6-yard box with the keeper rooted to his line.

As the half went on, Roselands came into the game, but they found a resolute Prime defence with Cary and Turvey mopping up all of their forays forward and the wingers getting little or no change out of Prime veterans Mazurkiewicz and Davis.

It was 2-0 at the break and the game was very much still alive, but manager Goldsmith was happy with the first 45 minutes. A bit more communication was required in the second-half but that was the only criticism.

Roselands started the half by suddenly playing like Barcelona as they popped the ball around at the back and worked a half-chance in Prime's area, but Kerton was still not worked.

The wind was taken out of their sails when a bizarre 3rd goal effectively killed the game off. Prime really should have scored when Westcott and Ferguson both had shots half-blocked, but with the ball spinning around on the Roselands goal-line, their defender smashed the ball into Ferguson's back and the ball rebounded into the net.

For the second time in the game Prime scored twice in quick succession as Westcott found Ferguson and the striker beat the keeper with ease.

Buckland then came on for the evergreen Davis with Mazurkiewicz switching across to left-back. He nearly made an instant impact when he surged onto an inswinging cross from the left, but the bounce deceived him and his first touch was a handball!

Prime added a contraversial 5th goal when Roselands asked to stop play to make a substitution, but the ref played on and Prime strolled in number five as Fitzgerald rolled into Ferguson's path for a tap-in to complete his hat-trick.

Westcott was being afforded all kinds of space between the Roselands defence and midfield and he threaded another ball through for Sykes to net his 2nd of the game soon after.

Andy Harris made his Prime bow, replacing the hard-working Henshall down the right-wing. Roselands threatened to pull one back as Prime re-organised themselves but after Turvey's ill-judged back pass, Kerton did well to smother - and then the returning Prime number 1 received a roasting from Goldsmith for shouting "Not Home" at Turvey - who clearly failed to hear the word 'Not'!

Prime added number 7 with 15 minutes on the clock as Ferguson returned the favour with Fitzgerald who rolled home a debut goal.

Fergie was given a well-earned break for the last 10 as Goldsmith trotted on to replace him. The player/boss then got a front-row view of Abu's latest miss as a corner was half-cleared to him 10 yards out but he shanked it 10 yards wide to smiles all round!

There was still time for Prime to add an 8th goal and it was arguably the pick of the bunch as The Numbers broke down the left with Abu finding Sykes, whose shot ricocheted into Fitzgerald's path and the midfielder - buoyed by his first goal - curled a beauty into the top corner.

There will be tougher tests ahead, but a pleasing start all round for Prime who now face a three-week wait before their next match - at home to Yalding in the League Cup.