After 11 weeks of inactivity due to seemingly non-stop rain, the Cadogan pitch finally passed a pitch-inspection and The Numbers could play their first match of the year.

Predictably after such a long gap, Prime were missing several key players for the visit of Woodlands. Keeper Lewis Kerton was off playing golf in sunnier climes and back-up keeper Jamie Sykes was up north.

First-choice centre-backs Turvey, Cary and Williams were all on holiday so Prime called for Jamie Barker to return between the sticks and Matt Walker to come out of retirement at the back.

Ellis dropped back to partner Walker, with Westcott and Abu partnered in midfield. Sander got the nod over Flamank at left-back, leaving him on the bench with Goldsmith, Harris and the returning Carl Barker.

It seemed that the visitors were also struggling slightly for numbers with another emergency signing made by them.

With the temperature suddenly in the mid-teens and the sun out, Prime kicked off and immediately set about their opponents with Nowak threatening down the left.

Abu and Westcott were linking up well in the middle of the park and Henshall looked dangerous out wide every time the ball came out to him.

Ferguson was again proving a handful for his old club at the back as Prime continued to knock on the door.

At the other end stand-in keeper Jamie Barker was looking assured and he made a couple of good punches clear as Woodlands pressed from corners.

But Prime took the lead on 20 minutes when the industrious Excell dug out a fine cross from the right wing and as the Woodlands defenders failed to clear, the ball dropped for Westcott to side-foot into the net.

Excell himself nearly doubled the lead when Henshall's cross was touched back by Ferguson and Excell's volley flew narrowly over the bar.

Ellis and Walker were coming under increasing pressure but the Woodlands striker was getting no change out of either of them and with Sander and Mazurkiewicz defensively solid, Barker had a relatively quiet half.

The moment of the half arrived just before the break when Sander tripped up taking a throw-in. He went down like a drunk falling out of a bar but at least he managed to avoid his customary foul-throw!

At the interval, Ferguson and Nowak were the unlucky pair to get taken off to give Carl Barker and Flamank 45 minutes. It turned out to be an inspired change as Barker's shot in the first minute of the half was palmed into Flamank's path and despite Excell trying to put him off by slipping over, he tucked the ball away well with his first touch.

The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Woodlands who continued to play in a lacklustre manner although in fairness the pitch was very bobbly.

Prime had to defend well from a number of corners, but despite Walker complaining of a bad back, he and Ellis continued to keep the back door firmly closed.

As Goldsmith tried to get Harris on for Excell, Prime added the killer 3rd goal as Henshall waltzed past the Woodlands defence and as his shot rolled passed the keeper, Carl Barker was on hand to roll home his 58th and easiest goal for the club.

Harris then came on and immediately got involved as Woodlands began to get frustrated and their young defender took exception to Flamank's back-chat and he proceeded to try and kick him every time Flamank got the ball then after.

The goal of the game arrived with 5 minutes left after Abu's 1-yard pass bobbled up nicely for Westcott who swung his left foot at the ball and it sailed into the top-corner from the edge of the box. In fairness the midfielder looked just as surprised as anyone after missing several easier chances earlier in the season!

Abu also went close with a curling free-kick but at the final whistle, it was smiles all round for the Prime players whose promotion push it still on track.