North star on the opening night

It was a Friday night to remember for the hosts at Northfield as they came from behind to win 3-1.

Northerners fully merited all three points with a performance that was full of endeavour, heart and no lack of quality either – all done in the face of conceding after approximately 50 seconds to Dom Heaume’s header and then losing captain River Marsh within 10 minutes to a nasty-looking shoulder injury after the Saints goalscorer had landed on top of him having been eased out of an aerial battle.

Despite those early setbacks, the chocolate-and-blues did not waste any time feeling sorry for themselves and instead went on the offensive, with their bright young prospects combining impressively with the experienced spine running through the team.

At the heart of much of it was livewire Brandon Wallace, who was simply outstanding.

Throughout the vast majority of the game he and Owen Wallbridge buzzed around on either side of the attack’s focal point Sam Murray, never giving the Saints backline a moment’s peace.

Behind them, Luke Mollet came on as a quality replacement for Marsh, working well alongside two more teenagers in George McNeela and Jamie Smith.

As a unit, they gelled well and the only disappointment from a home perspective at half-time was that they still trailed to that Heaume goal, which came when he nodded in the second ball from close range at a corner, because in all other aspects of the game they were well on top.

The closest they came to scoring was Wallace’s fierce drive that was beaten away by Josh Addison, who also made a good stop to deny Smith, while several other attacks just fell short when it came to the finishing touch.

On the rare occasions Saints threatened at the other end, Leroi Riley made two strong saves from Nigel Hutton while Harvey Lihou headed against a post at another corner.

Saints had their best spell of the game at the start of the second half with Hutton putting a chance wide before Archie Drillot made a crucial goal-line clearance from Callum Le Lacheur’s effort, but North were soon back on top and midway through the half they got the reward they deserved and it came in spectacular fashion.

Smith was involved in the build-up before Wallace took over and, despite being 25 yards from goal, there was an inevitability in the way his stunning left-foot shot found the top corner via the inside of the post.

Five minutes later, North took the lead.

The goal was in total contrast to their first, coming as it did in scrappy fashion from just a couple of yards out as Murray eventually headed over the line in a packed penalty area, but they did not care.

The big striker, who had taken over the armband once Marsh left the action, made the game safe seven minutes from time as North quickly moved the ball from defence to attack with just two passes and Murray marauded into the penalty area before firing past Addison.

It was a terrific start to the campaign for North, but no cause for panic for Saints.

On Saturday afternoon, Belgrave Wanderers started their campaign with a 3-1 win over Rangers, Alderney won 2-0 at St Peter's against Sylvans while Vale Rec and Rovers fought out a goalless draw.

• More in Monday's Guernsey Press.