Flanagan's Onions 2 St George's 0

Goals from Mark Field and Treshun Smith ensured Flanagan's Onions made a winning start to the season against St George's at Goose Gosling Field yesterday.

Onions, who were relegated last term, took the lead in the 45th minute through a poacher's goal from Field before a superb long-range effort from captain Smith in the 72nd.

Michael Lindsey-Bailey almost added a third late on when he curled an effort past Freddy Hall, the St George's goalkeeper, but was denied by the post.

Pete Robey, deputising for coach Mick Ward, who was off the island, said Onions' first game back in the second tier could not have gone any better.

“It was the perfect start,” Robey said. “St George's played some really good football, but we were just really well organised, worked really hard and the goals came.”

Robey said he is hoping Onions' “small but committed squad” can be among the promotion challengers.

They have added several new faces such as midfielder Colin Rego and defender David Simmons. “We have kept a lot of the squad from last season,” Robey said. “I thought we were a bit unlucky to go down.

“We have a fairly small squad but they're very committed and together. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be challenging [for promotion].”

Smith has been a key part of Onions' team during the past few seasons and outlined his quality with a superb effort which beat Hall, the former Toronto FC and Limerick, goalkeeper.

“Treshun has been with us for four or five years now and has really matured as a player,” Robey added.

TEAMS

Flanagan's Onions (4-5-1): L Matthews — C Berkeley, D Simmons, N Angin, S Swan (sub: B Turner, 25min) — A Rocker, M Lindsey-Bailey, C Rego, T Smith, M Field (J Morgan, 75) — P Smith. Substitutes not used: Burns

St George's (4-3-3): F Hall — Jerreau Hayward, D Signor (sub: J Brangman, 45), E Signor, J Carlington — K Dembrokc, M Tucker (sub: Manders, 4), G Wade — Jeremie Hayward, C Wade, S Blair-Paynter. Substitutes not used: Q London,

D Lodge, S Paynter, J Brangman. C Marshall, Z Burgess, N Spencer, Booked: Wade

Referee: G Swainson