Game kicks off in calm weather and it is an even start with both teams battling to gain the upper hand.
Phoenix strike first with a great individual goal on 7 minutes from Harry Main who picks up the ball out wide on the right, beats his man and shoots from 25 yards out lobbing the keeper.

Phoenix pressed straight from the kick off and earned a corner almost straight away. The corner, crossed by Main, is headed in at the back post by Teddy Maynard, 2-0 after 10 minutes

Greenwich Borough scored soon after - a threaded ball across the goal to the right where the Phoenix defenders got in a mess and gave away a sloppy goal 2-1, after 12 minutes - probably deserved for their recent probing attacks.

Soon after a rare misplaced pass from the Phoenix No2 is capitalised on by Greenwich Borough who score another soft goal threading the ball straight down the middle, 2-2 after 20 minutes. From being very comfortable there's now a game on !!

Phoenix are rocked but they dig deep! Harry Main got his second after working hard and chasing a lost cause, then putting it beyond the oncoming keeper. 3-2 to Phoenix after 25 minutes - The game is electric.

More impressive pressing from the restart results in a penalty for Phoenix. With Harry Main on a hat-trick he takes it and scores to make it 4-2 after half an hour! Feel like I've watched a whole game already!

Just before half time a there is a great chance for the new Phoenix centre-forward, No20. After a pass out from the back he cuts in from the left, shoots, but the keeper pulls off a great save to put it around the post.
4-2 at half time and nothing more than Phoenix deserve. It is a very entertaining game for the neutral!

Second half gets underway and there are a few changes from both sides.
A pass out from the back by No4 is put through to our No10 who holds it up well and puts it through to Ben Middleton who slots cooly home for 5-2 - a very good start to the second half and nothing more than is deserved.

A free-kick on 55mins for Phoenix and the No8 puts it in from the left - It causes mayhem in the box but it eventually comes to nothing and the hosts get it away.
The game is getting stretched as Greenwich Borough look for a way back in. It starts to become a little heated with hard but fair tackles all around. Both sets of players are shwing a good work ethic and attitude.

On 65mins there is a good bit of solo dribbling through the middle by the Phoenix No7. He puts no18 through who shoots just wide of the post , a good effort and unlucky following his recent hard work.

Greenwich go straight down the other end and see a shot rebound off the crossbar and away.
End to end stuff !!

Greenwich Borough are having a bit of sustained pressure but Phoenix are dealing with it . Our keeper is positioning himself very well and our No3 in the middle of the back 3 is anticipating the opponents link up play well. It may not have been as fluent a defensive display as seen before but it was still very good.

As the game entered into the latter stages both teams were working hard to produce something but nothing is coming off for either side. Greenwich are kept at bay and only having shots from distance with Phoenix always dangerous and looking likely to grab another.

With 5 to go a free-kick to Phoenix is put just wide by Our No8 who has worked tirelessly all game.

In the final minute we have the last chance of the game. The Phoenix No7 works hard in the middle, wins the ball, and puts through Harry Main who shoots just over - could he have squared it ? Strikers priority maybe.

Final whistle goes and it is a good away victory for Phoenix U18 PDN winning 5-2.

In some ways a strange performance with some usual rocks within the squad having off days. The new boys gelled very well and the whole squad worked extremely hard for each other as is the Phoenix way. Especially impressive as not once over pre-season have they all been together.

Now the squad is all together we can start building momentum and there is a lot more to come from this group of boys - an exciting forward line, a strong hard working midfield and an organised solid defence.
It looks like a team that could play numerous formations throughout the season.
A great opening day result well done boys!

Warren Thornton - Twitter

"A very fast paced game and full credit to Greenwich Borough. A hat-trick from Harry Main with Teddy Maynard and Ben Middleton getting a goal each. There is a lot more to come from this squad but a great opening day result."