Good Opening Win Southbank opened the new 2007-2008 season with an excellent 4-1 win away to Mapledurham Cavaliers, at Mapledurham. After an excellent pre-season which has seen the addition of a number of new players including Danny Hawkins, Ackmal and Zeph who all made their debuts, the Bank recorded the result they were after. In recent years Mapledurham has not been a game that Southbank have recorded many positive results against, so they knew this would be a tricky game. Plenty has been said by the team this pre-season about potential and aims and Hightower set out them out again before the kick off. Out of the blocks Southbank came and they took the initiative against their opposition, who despite this still posed a serious threat with a number of excellent players. After a number of chances came and went, Southbank opened the scoring after 20 minutes when a familiar face Jason Wagner, skipper in the absence of the suspended Gale opened the scoring, drilling home from 20 yards out into the top corner, straight out of the top locker. This was just the start the team had been looking for and was just reward for the opening 20 minutes in the game. However, from here the team lost their way and shape a little, as Mapledurham bombarded the defence with long piercing balls from the keeper. It was from one of these that they equalised from, somewhat against the run of play. A long punt down field was not dealt with properly by Hightower, who despite two attempts including bread and butter straight header were missed and as the ball bounced into the area the Mapledurham striker drifted in and poked past helpless Charlie in goal. For a while the Bank struggled to regain the composure and the game was really being played at 100mph pace, few clear chances were created and what did fell to the Bank attacking four. Bellman did have the ball in the net but it was somehow ruled out for off side and despite numerous corners and an excellent Hawkins header striking the bar the game stayed level. However, if this team is to deliver on its aim then its coming back from difficult situations they will have to overcome and they did this in the last 10 minutes of the first half. Another long ball had Shaz pegged back in his corner flag with the strikers bearing down on him, however with calmness personified, he moved out of this corner, moved the ball up to Ackmal. From here three further passes which split the Mapledurham team in half results in Hill, bursting the back four and firing home to give the Bank a deserved lead. The second half came through and the Bank continued where they left off, high aggressive tempo football. Soon a third came, again the ball travelling through the team quickly, this time right to left and through to Bellman, who this time made no mistake and converted, to open his account for the season. Soon the Bank rang the changes with Latch and Archie taking over from Hightower and Bryce to give the team a new freshness. Bank had several chances but the ball did not quite break for them as the back four kept Mapledurham out, Charlie Cook excellent in goal with a command presence. Danny Hawkins made way for Derman to come on and from here, the Bank closed out the game with a fourth. Same scorer as the first goal, same distance, this time other foot. Jason, driving forward from a deep position to drill the ball home into the top corner with his left foot, completing the victory and sealing a man of the match performance. Many challenges lay ahead for this team but they have the personnel to enjoy a good season if the commitment and effort is maintained throughout the season.   Team: Cook, Gull, Zeph, Price (Latch), Fletcher, Saleem, Wagner, Hawkins (Derman), Bellman (McKie), Hill, Williams