Before the usual Tuddenham Road crowd, Greshams proudly unveiled no fewer than five new signings in their opening fixture against Selkirk. Josh Slade debuted in goal, protected by the fat back four of Robbie White, Neil Potter, Phil Beeson and Stevie Hamblin. In midfield manager Cashen handed a debut to youngster Anthony Snell, and Tony Newton and Steve Froud also made their first starts after their close season captures by the Tuddenham Road outfit. The midfield quartet was completed by the diminutive form of Cashjunior, while Gibbo and Burton were the front two.
After the traditionally low profile (ie non existent) pre season friendlies, and with all the transfer activity being conducted on deadline day, Greshams started like a team of strangers and Potter's pace was soon being thoroughly tested by the pacy Selkirk number 9. However, Josh was proving a revelation in goal, to the astonishment of Greshams veterans and the crowd, he proved able not only to make the odd save, but also to kick the ball, on occasion reaching nearly the half way line!
Anthony Snell had to leave the field after just ten minutes of his debut to be replaced by Ryan Bugg. With Potter and Hamblin proving obdurate in defence, Gershams were starting to come in to the game, with Tony Newton winning plenty of ball and passing it simple to allow Tom Cashen to pull the strings in midfield. A Greshams break dowm the left, ball crossed in, and there is Froudy to bundle it home at tha back post.
After this opener Greshams grew in confidence and there followed a series of astonishing misses, the most blatant of which had to be seen to be believed. Froudy was the culprit, when a lovely little cross from young Ryan Bugg found him faced with a literally open goal. However, instead of sticking the ball into the unguarded onion bag, for some reason, Froudy chose to stroke it stylishly wide, to the head clutching despair of manager Cashen, who sank to his knees on the sidelines, uttering some words of constructive criticism as he did so.
However, after further good chances were spurned by Gibson, Burton and Cashjunior, it was Steve Burton who finally stretched the Greshams lead, cooly slotting home a side foot finish after good work by Gibson.
Half time 2 - 0
The arrival of further support in the shape of Mike Potter and his octogenarian cheerleader mother, inspired Greshams, who were soon on the hunt for more goals. The third soon arrived, and it was that man Burton again, devouring the chance like it was a Big Mac. The ball came in from the right and Burton swivelled on a sixpence and lashed home from close range.
Three soon became four from a good Greshams move. Josh rolled the ball to Cashen senior and Tony Newton, showing extraordinary vision, stepped over the ball (surely he just failed to control it?? - Ed.) allowing it to run to Tom Cashen, whose inch perfect ball palyed in Gibbo to lob the keeper.
Unfortunately Greshams then had a slight blemish on the day by conceding, a shot from distance cannoning back off the bar for a suspiciously offside striler to head over a prone Josh Slade.
It was a really encouraging first game for Greshams. All the new signings did well, despite Froudy's profligacy, and with greater familiarity, things can only get better.
Full Time 4 - 1
