Report submitted by Team Dudley

As season openers go this was a great one for the neutral with Team Dudley opening the campaign with a 4-2 victory at Priory Road over local rivals Bustleholme.

Lee Mills handed debuts out to Ash Green in goals, Josh Anakin up front and Vlad Lungu who started out wide.

The Romanian was granted international clearance just 28 hours before kick off. All worth it to watch the new lad on show.

Team Dudley started on edge a little as within the first minute a Bustlehome cut back saw Chris Brown waiting and his effort was blocked by Lee Clarke, the youngster threw his body in the way of the ball and the resulting corner was caught by Green.

They followed that up with a speculative effort that went over the bar but clearly had a threat going forward.

10 minutes in it should've been 1-0 Dudley as Alex Pinches free kick hit the wall, Vlad Lungu kept it alive and set it for Pinches to strike, the midfielder hit it hard and off the crossbar, it bounced, seemingly, over the line but the linesman remained unmoved and the referee went with him so TD weren't given a lead they thought they had.

Bradley Cox was then the next to be denied, this time from a diving 'keeper. The midfielder making great runs going forward for TD.

17 minutes in and it was 1-0 as Vlad Lungu opened the scoring. A cross in from Bradley Cox to Lungu who took a touch and fired a volley, almost simultaneously, past the Baydn Gallagher in the Bustleholme goal. A great cross and finish to start the season.

Josh Anakin was frustrated not to make it two as the striker was set up by Alex Pinches.

The striker decided to take a touch instead of a first touch strike and the 'keeper closed down the space and his shot was blocked by the body of Gallagher.

Just past the half hour it was 2-0 though as Bradley Cox scored his first of the season with Vlad returning the favour to Brad on the first goal and a powerful strike extended the lead for Team Dudley.

Unfortunately that two goal cushion lasted about a minute. Nathan Turner put a cross in for Bustleholme but caught it wrong and the effort unexpectedly beat Ash Green as it nestled into the roof of the net.

That goal got the away side up for the game again and they would soon have their levelled with 38 gone a corner came in and was headed out by Team Dudley, the header fell to the edge of the area and was caught by Daniel Wood, the Bustleholme captain probably won't connect with a strike as sweet again in his career and the effort flew past everyone and into the back of the net.

The second half kicked off with Dudley being encouraged the keep the ball, however Bustleholme certainly had the momentum and missed some golden opportunites to complete the comeback, the first came in and was headed by Rikki Danton, the forward glanced it towards the back post, it bounced just wide of Ash Green's far post.

Soon after Leon Brown was ruing some missed chances as the forward ran unmarked into the box with the ball in good it needed a touch with direction. It got the touch, Brown got his thigh on it but it was directed wide of the post, Dudley breathing a huge sigh of relief with a let off.

Bradley Cox nearly gave Team Dudley the lead at the other end but his shot from inside the area was touched by the 'keeper, that took the pace out of the ball and the defender cleared before the effort crossed the line, no qualms from Dudley this time.

Josh Anakin then had an effort from 25 yards beat the 'keeper but hit the base of the post and rolled behind as Dudley showed they have some great pace and ability going forward.

The lead was returned when Bradley Cox got his brace on 83. Vlad and Brad combination was working wonders as Vlad beat his man with a little scoop touch the winger then passed the ball into Cox with perfect weight and accuracy for Cox to finish first time past Gallagher.

With four minutes left it was a two goal lead once more - Vlad the scorer as Marc Lawrence crossed the ball in with pace, Craig Edwards, off the bench made a huge difference was waiting to finish but Vlad got there first and he had an attempt off his thigh spin off the bottom of the far post and in. A deserved second goal for Vlad.

Dudley then dug in - Blackham won a lot at the back next to Hawthorne and the hard work paid off as the season began with three points.