Super Central Off To A Flyer

Manchester Central got their Manchester Football League Division One campaign off to a perfect start, as they beat Elton Vale 3-1 at The Seashell Academy.

Two goals in the first 15 minutes settled any opening day nerves, and despite a spirited Elton Vale fight back halving the deficit, a powerful Gabriel Wiwoloku strike sealed Central's first three points of the season.

After a solid pre-season, expectations were high in the Central camp before the curtain-raiser against Vale, a repeat of the 17/18 opening day, and it didn't take long for the deadlock to be broken.

An inch perfect corner whipped in by Sanjae Hemmeings was met clinically by the head of Aria Asqari who guided the ball into the far corner after just five minutes.

With Central maintaining their early pressure, it was only a matter of time before the lead was doubled.

High pressure by Nell Noupoue saw the Central midfielder rob the ball from a hesitant Elton Vale defence before clinically slotting home from the edge of the box to make Central's perfect start even better.

Elton Vale began to wake up towards the end of the first half and, but for a brilliant save from a close range volley by Danny Whiting, could've been back in the game before the interval.

Vale continued their improvement after half-time and after forcing another good save from Whiting before the referee handed them a lifeline.

An Elton Vale corner was flicked on and from point blank range struck the arm of a Central defender and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot before Adam Plimley stepped up and slotted home for the away side halving the deficit at 2-1.

As the game opened up both sides had chances to find the back of the net; Damani Hall went close twice for Central from set-pieces at one end and made a spectacular goal-line clearance at the other to maintain Central's advantage.

With Central looking to kill off the game, chances came thick and fast as Wiwoloku, Junior Silva and Fuad Kasali all saw chances go begging.

With ten minutes to go Central sealed all three points courtesy of a wonderful team goal.

Danny Whiting started the move and Gabriel Wiwoloku clinically finished it via some brilliant play from Dan Dolling, Nell Noupoue and Damani Hall, a great team goal to round off a great team performance.

With the final whistle blown at the Seashell Trust, Central's 3-1 win was their first 21st Century win on the opening day, and with a performance manager Chris Tomkinson could be proud of.

"It was a great performance from everyone out there today. It's always important to get off the best possible start which is something, recently, we've struggled with so to get the opening day win is hugely satisfying.

"Going forward we've scored three, it probably could've been more, and at the back the only time they could break us down was from a penalty so you couldn't really ask for a better start to the season.

"It's going to be a quick turn around now before we travel to Wilmslow Albion on Tuesday night so now it's time to reflect, recover and go again to hopefully make it 2 wins from 2."