With Andy Hawkins on first team duty,Joe Thompson still playing cricket,Rob Helmore V festival,James Horn (thirds),Dave Jolly injured,Andy Slough injured,Luke Horrel injured,we entered a tough opener with a young side.

Rangers rout 'will make Stoke stronger'

BUCKFASTLEIGH Rangers went some way to avenging last season's double loss to Stoke Gabriel Reserves, hammering Matt Zadel's charges 6-1 at Duckspond on the opening weekend of the new campaign.
It had all started so well for Stoke against the team who finished as runners-up to them in Division Two last term as young striker Jamie Meaden fired them ahead with a superb 30-yard lob inside the opening 60 seconds.
But they were dealt a blow less than ten minutes later as centre-forward Tom Birch was red-carded for handling on the goalline.
Ryan Porter made no mistake from the spot to pull the hosts level, and an 18-yard strike from Eric Hale put them 2-1 ahead going into the break.

Porter and Hale completed braces in the second period as Buckfastleigh, for whom Arren de Young and substitute Stuart Mitchell were also on target, ran riot.
Zadel said the heavy defeat could turn out to be the 'best thing that's happened to us'.
He added: "When you keep winning all the time — after losing two games in the league last season, we only lost once in pre-season — it's not healthy as you don't want the players to start becoming arrogant.
"To get hammered isn't nice but I think it will probably make us stronger.'
Of the game itself, Zadel said: "With a man down, we just couldn't get back in the game in the second half.
"If Tom wasn't sent off it may have been different.
"We also had a little bit of a young team today (Saturday) — we normally have a nice blend of youth and experience, but we didn't have that blend.
"Buckfastleigh deserve the plaudits, though. They took their chances and deserved to win."
Joint Rangers boss Dave Scholz echoed some of Zadel's sentiments.
He said: "To be fair to them they're a good side and will be up there but they're also a young side.
"While the average age of our team is something like 28, theirs is about 21. They seemed to fold a bit with ten men which might be down to their lack of experience.

Well done to Bucks they had there day,after Tom Burch's sending off.

Not a nice feeling losing in the league,but i am sure when we got a few older heads back,we will do oursleves justice.

See you all Tuesday. Next game 4th Sept Riv Spurs away,along few weeks.