Division One Northhillingdon Borough 0 Redbridge 4

ROB Burton and Hillingdon Borough could hardly have had a more difficult introduction to Ryman One North and they crashed to a heavy defeat at home to Redbridge.

Burton's young and hastily-assembled side found itself 4-0 behind before the interval and although they prevented a landslide, the damage was already done by the side that finished third last season.

"It was a bit of a case of rabbits in the headlights in the first half," admitted Burton. "They were big and strong and they were a lot faster and before we knew it we were three down from two individual mistakes and a penalty.

"It was given to them on a plate so we need to stop that straight away.

"We hit the post and had one cleared off the line but every time they went forward they looked like scoring.

"We changed things at half-time and it got a lot better in the second half to the point where we stopped them playing.

"If we can take that into the first half of the next game I'll be happy.

"We've got to be ultra organised and that will only come with time."

Burton had to do without Tinoi Christie (chipped elbow) and Wayne Reid (ankle), injured last Tuesday, as well as Michael Murray who has joined Steve Ringrose at North Greenford United.

He also lost Matt Davis (concussion) and Dan Campbell for last night's (Tuesday) trip to Cheshunt as the game with the physical Redbridge visitors took its toll. Redbridge started well and deservedly took the lead when Nathan Scarborough struck with a fierce drive after 10 minutes.

Boro tried to hit back and efforts from John Powles and Sam Worrell went close and Campbell went clean through and squeezed his shot under keeper Tony Tucker, but the ball found the bottom of a post and was hacked to safety.

Davis then made an excellent onehanded save from a Gary Henty pile-driver, but he could do nothing to prevent the second goal in the 25th minute, Carl Bruce with a firm header following a neat

move. Two further goals from Jacob Erskine, the first from the penalty spot after Chris Paul was harshly adjudged to have fouled, and the second a well placed header, ended the game as a contest.

Redbridge then sat back in the second

half and soaked up anything Boro threw at them.

BORO: Davis, Flowerday, Christie, Harris, Paul, Kendall, Powles, Worrell, Sharples, Campbell, Silva. Subs: Oniru, Glenn.

Goals, Boro: None. Redbridge: Scarborough 10; Bruce 26; Erskine 31 (pen), 39. Attendance: 35.

DIVISION ONE NORTH

Waltham Forest 0 Northwood 1

COLIN Payne was cautiously optimistic about Northwood's prospects after watching his side scrap to a 1-0 win away to Waltham Forest.

The game was played on Ilford's notoriously uneven pitch and for that reason if no other, the Woods had to battle their way to victory courtesy of a Terry Davies goal scored on his competitive debut for the club.

While Payne was very happy with a win he acknowledged tougher games are coming thick and fast, starting with last night's (Tuesday) home clash with Enfield Town.

"It was a really tough game, purely because of the pitch conditions," he said. "It was not conducive to playing football and credit to both teams for trying.

"We should have put the game to bed which was a bit of a worry because in the next three or four games we'll be

coming up against a lot better opposition.

"We looked very good defensively. "We had eight players from last season in the starting XI, which I think will give us a massive advantage early in the season because a lot of teams have got a lot of new players."

After an even start the Woods began to make in-roads and a Danny Murphy long throw was headed on by Brad Hewitt, with Sean Sonner pouncing to fire a snapshot wide.

The same combination from a free kick almost got Sonner in but goalkeeper Roberto Gada smothered and Ryan Tackley saw his follow up blocked.

However, Northwood were gifted the lead after 25 minutes.

Hewitt challenged for a long throw by Sonner but both he and Gada missed the ball and the predatory Davies, signed from Slough Town, stole in to find the unguarded net.

Murphy was pulling the strings for the visitors, delivering a corner which Hewitt

headed wide, soon after Hewitt flicked another Sonner throw not too far away and another Murphy cross saw Davies stretch to get a shot in but Gada saved low down.

The hosts, who put 10 men behind the ball, finally showed their teeth when a good move led to a shot from Marcel Jones but Mitch Swain saved comfortably and the Woods should have gone further ahead in the opening minute of the second half.

Davies stole in unmarked to get on the end of a Dwain Williams free kick and he had all the time in the world to turn and score, but rushed an overhead kick which sailed wide.

It was a let-off for the hosts and Swain had to keep out a shot from Vinnie Dur-rant to keep his side in front.

Richard Orlu, one of three players making his Woods debut with Davies and Joe Cowen, brought the ball out of defence and sent Michael Gordon away.

He jinked past his marker and floated over an inviting cross but Davies saw his

shot blocked and the ball was scrambled away.

Adrian Abramian and Aryan Taj, who was on the bench for Barnet's Cocal Cola League Cup game at Brighton in midweek, replaced Davies and Gordon but chances were few and far between until the closing stages when the tireless Sonner set up Taj for what would have been a fine goal, but the youngster blasted his effort wide.

The success was Northwood's first opening day victory since their promotion-winning season of six years ago.

"Terry Davies is a born goal scorer," commented Payne, who is looking to bring in another striker this week. "He's an out and out sniffer of goals.

"Joe Cowen settled in nicely at right-back and Richard Orlu was very assured alongside Bradley Hewitt." NORTHWOOD: Swain, Cowen Tackley, Orlu, Hewitt, Christian, Gordon (Taj), Dwain Williams (Dwane Williams), Sonner, Davies (Abramian), Murphy. Subs not used: Pearce, Brown. Goals, Forest: None. Woods: Davies 25. Attendance: 57.