GOALS from Alice Russell, Sarah Kelly and Kelly Hancock guided South Berkshire Ladies to a season-opening win away at neighbours Sonning 2s in Trysports Premier 1.
Berks, who finished fifth last season and have a new coach in Mark Robinson, broke the deadlock when Russell deflected a Bryony Woods shot into the net.
A brilliant save from Yellie Powley-Williams preserved the lead, allowing Kelly to double the advantage, firing in from a tight angle.
And the 3-0 win was sealed when captain Hancock dribbled past two defenders before flicking past the goalkeeper.
In the same league, SONNING LADIES 1s marked their return to the Trysports Premier with a 5-0 thrashing of Slough 2s.
Freshly-relegated after a difficult campaign up in the South Clubs’ Division, Sonning returned in style with a comfortable win on the road.
Down in Division 1, goals from Emily Yorke-Goldney and Caz Bickley could not prevent a 3-2 defeat for SOUTH BERKSHIRE 2s at Abingdon.
SONNING 3s got off to a winning start, edging past Amersham and Chalfont 1-0.
Lower down the pyramid there were wins for SOUTH BERKSHIRE LADIES 3s and SONNING 4s, but SOUTH BERKS 4s and SONNING VETERANS were beaten. SONNING LADIES 5s drew 2-2 with Bicester 5s in Division 6.
The men’s season begins in earnest this weekend but the MBBO Regional 1 campaign did get underway with SONNING thrashed 9-1 at Chiswick.
Newly-promoted Sonning were given a rude awakening with Ian Gallagher netting their consolation goal.