Huntsman 4, Elm Road Club 0
By Craig Woodhead
Following last season’s promotion, The Huntsman kicked off life in the Wear Valley Sunday League first division with a resounding 4-0 victory over Shildon Elm Road Club.
Manager Neil Dodds has added eight new players to the squad over the summer and was able to hand debuts to Glenn Hendrix, Luke Banner and new goalkeeper Luke Hilliard.
The game got off to a slow start with both sides unable to settle in to a rhythm, but it was the Huntsman who broke the deadlock on 20 minutes when a corner was nodded down in the box by Dave Neale and Banner was on hand to flick a header beyond the goalkeeper.
A couple of penalty shouts were turned away but the Huntsman went in leading 1-0 at half-time the message was to get the all-important second goal to gain full control of the game.
It was Banner again who doubled The Huntsman advantage, as the ball found him 25 yards out and his precise right footed chip found the net.
Banner then rounded of a magnificent debut with a drilled left foot volley from the edge of the box to give him a perfect hat trick and a well-deserved man of the match.
The scoring was then rounded off as substitute Andrew Richardson broke away and calmly slotted his one on one into the right hand corner.
Next up for the Huntsman are Coundon Miner’s Arms at home. 10:30 kick off at Simpasture Park.
The club are currently on the lookout for new sponsorship for new strips and training equipment, if any local businesses would be interested in helping out get in touch with Neil on 07972 071603.