With some movement of players over the close season Manager Letts gave league debuts to new signings Surdarlu Catalin. Joe Jarra and ‘keeper Mick Rundle and gratifyingly all three impressed in what was a solid display which may have been even more emphatic but for some fine goalkeeping from Wright & Unity’s O’Sullivan.

The opening few games of the season can be misleading as players are away, suspended etc but I predict good things from Wright & Unity and believe yesterday’s result to be of early significance against a team whom I’m sure will ruffle a few feathers this season.

As for United Letts and Carvell can be pleased with what was a solid and often powerful performance built on a solid back five. Its often cited that any decent team must build from the back and while this is a truism United in past seasons have somewhat belied that theory by taking on a ‘we will score more than you’ attitude and to a large extent that has worked through necessity as it isn't as if United have never had quality defenders, quite the contrary in fact, the problem, in my view, is more reliability. It’s one thing having class defenders but it’s critical that the defence is settled to enable an understanding unlike in previous seasons where the personnel have always been available but enforced switching and changing of players led to United, despite having the 3rd best defensive record last season in the division, languishing far behind eventual champions YMCA’s impressive 16 goals conceded against United’s 40 conceded. Incidentally, United scored most goals last season (96) narrowly beating YMCA’s (94) therefore it appears a further tightening up at the back could prove very fruitful. This I believe can be achieved simply by having a settled back line, United have always had the personnel, and its these subtle transformations that can be the difference between first and second, such are the fine margins at the top and United's midfield and attacking prowess has never been doubted so an even greater understanding at the back can potentially reap great reward.
I do feel that yesterday’s victory may be even bigger than what it appears to be, time will tell but I shall be looking at Wright & Unity’s results closely over the coming weeks.

Around the Premier Division newcomers, or perhaps more correctly returnees, Westwood United took all three points at Berks County while Cookham Dean recorded an emphatic 3-0 win over Woodley United Royals. Perhaps the shock result of the day saw Highmoor Ibis United record a solid looking 4-1 win at Mortimer. Highmoor sending out a message? We shall see. Newbury edged it against Taplow 2-1 as defending champions Reading YMCA produced a solid looking 3-0 win over newly promoted Wokingham & Emmbrook as Wraysbury fought back from 2-0 down to end 2-2 with a late leveller against Woodcote Stoke Row.

Wednesday evening sees Wokingham & Emmbrook visit Derehams Lane. Early evening midweek kick offs are notoriously difficult to predict as teams often are weakened or even abnormally strengthened depending on other scheduled fixtures. However, I would be confident in this United team against anyone from Step 6 downwards and if the team can reproduce yesterday’s energy and quality there is no reason why 3 more points shouldn’t be in the bag prior to the visit of Westwood United next Saturday.
Following the first four games things will become clearer as the season settles down with players returning from holiday and suspensions aligned with the unpredictable midweek matches being behind us.

United’s newly resurrected reserve team continued their pre-season preparations yesterday with a young looking team going down 3-5. The reserves have one more pre-season encounter next Saturday when they play Maidenhead Magpies at Bisham Abbey KO 2pm.

United host Wokingham & Emmbrook this Wednesday 23 August KO 6pm and on Saturday 29 August Westwood United are the visitors KO 2pm.