For all of the good football, great results and scintillating performances we've had, there's nothing like when it actually 'means' something - and today meant something that's for sure. We were welcoming Radcliffe Raiders to Breightmet for our opening game of the North Bury Championship League - so with the lads prepped and ready, they started arriving in a confident mood. And why shouldn't they be? They've looked really good in the lead-up to this so everybody woke up this morning really excited. The next hour or so would show us why...

With the warm-up's done, the starting nine was announced - and it saw us going with a 3-4-1 shape that saw Freddie start between the posts with a defensive pairing in front of him of Dylan and skipper Finley. The central midfield partnership was to be Jack and Jacob and with the width and pace to be provided by Declan and Will, we had a great quartet in there. That meant that James was left to plough a lone furrow up top and with the game-changers for this one due to be Theo, Jenson, Alex and Miles, we had options when we needed to change things. The coaches got them in for their last words and the message was clear - play our stuff and enjoy it! We'd been waiting for this so let's go and do it! The lads made their way out to a warm round of applause from the Breightmet faithful and with a sharp blow of the referee's whistle - which was down to us as the man in the middle didn't turn up - the season of 2024-2025 was underway...

The first 15 minutes or so was a bit of a scramble as both teams were feeling each other out - but most of the attacking pressure was coming from the visitors. They were bombing forward at every opportunity and using the ball well - but we kept to our game-plan and played some really nice, quick football ourselves when we got in down. So it was no surprise when on 12 minutes, it was us that took the lead. Winning a corner over to the left, Declan went across to take and swung a glorious ball into the box that bounced around long enough for our Jacob to nip in and slot in home past the Radcliffe No.1. A good goal and we were off. 1-0...

That goal seemed to take the wind out of the Raider's sails and on 19 minutes, we doubled our lead. A good ball into the feet of James up front saw him hold it up wonderfully to wait for the precise moment in time to release it - and he fed it through so well that Declan didn't have to adjust his run before sliding it past their keeper and into the back of the net. Another great goal and we were now 2-0 to the good...

We were then guilty of giving them hope of getting back into this when we tried to play it out from the back - but they managed to rob it off us and as they lobbed our Freddie, there was nothing he could do - and as the ball nestled into the back of our net, the score-line now stood at 2-1 and we needed to re-focus again...

Re-focus we did and just before the break, we regained our two-lead as well - when Miles and Jacob combined really well on the right-hand side of the pitch and as the latter fired the ball across the box, there was Will at the back-post to rifle his shot into the back of their net and leave their No.1 no chance of keeping it out. 3-1 and that was that for the first period...

Half-time: BREIGHTMET UNITED 3-1 Radcliffe Raiders

As the lads trotted in for their drinks, the first thing the coaches reminded them was that they needed to concentrate now. The opponents had shown in that one moment that if we allowed them a way in, they certainly had enough to make us pay. So solid at the back, keep playing our football and make sure we tracked back with our man when we didn't have the ball. All things we are more than capable of - so we had to go and do it now. Changes were made to freshen things up and before we knew it, they were back out there ready to go again...

Right from the restart though, it was the visitors that scored the fifth goal of the game when a through-ball split us in two - and their striker was clinical as he slammed it past Freddie with pace. 3-2 and now it was definitely game on again. One of two things were going to happen now - we would either crumble and give the game away now - or we would stand together and get through whatever pressure they were about to throw at us, weather the storm and then get back to playing our football. Thankfully it was the better one - and our defence was superb! Freddie made some excellent saves to keep us in front and with the midfield protecting them well and our strikers grafting their socks off to cover the spaces, we were keeping the lead and starting to get more than our fair share of the football. Our counter-attacking was beautiful as we moved the ball quickly and it was continually catching them on the back-foot - and on 42 minutes, we scored our fourth goal of the game to surely put the result beyond doubt - and what a goal it was. As the Radcliffe side pressed forward, they played the ball up to their striker - but in stepped our captain Finley to nick it from his toes and smash it clear - and with their goalkeeper off his line, the ball flew straight over him and hammered into the back of their net. What a goal! His team-mates rushed to jump on top of him and the Breightmet fans were bouncing. 4-2 and we couldn't give this away now could we?

Then came what was arguably the 'best of the bunch' in terms of goals - and it was us that managed to get it again. This one saw some lovely football between Will, Jack and Jenson and as they passed it in triangles, the opposition couldn't get anywhere near it. Breaking through their midfield, Jenson sent a lovely ball through the channel to see Declan take hold of it, drop his shoulder to get past his marker with ease - and he smashed his shot into the top corner from about 15 yards out to seal the win - and the three points - for him and his team-mates! A stunning strike and a great way to end the game. 5-2 and we'd done it. We'd won our first competitive game!

The handshakes were done with pride and as both sets of players left the pitch, they quite rightly received a warm round of applause from the supporters of each side. That had been a great game out there and we really wish all of the Radcliffe Raiders players, coaches and supporters a safe journey home and a successful season to come. And as for us, it was a case of 'job done' and onto the next one....

Declan was awarded the Man of the Match today - but they can all go home knowing they played their part in this win today. Some of our football was a joy to watch and we'll use training in the week to work on a few ideas before we travel to take on Roch Valley Dynamos next weekend - and we'd love to see you all over there cheering us on. It's great when we hear your voices rallying us on and sometimes it feels like that extra player - so make sure you do your best to get there...

We're off. Three points in the bag and onto the next one. This is gonna be fun...

#OnceUnitedNeverDivided