Poole Town 1-0 Hanwell Town

It was a sense of déjà vu for Hanwell on opening day as they lost in Dorset for the second successive season with Poole Town claiming a 1-0 win thanks to Harvey Slade's first -half strike.

Chris Moore handed debuts to summer signings Elijah Oladunjoye, Addison Garnett, Seth Patrick, Harry Hoath, Bradley Clayton and Jordy Mongoy. New recruits Ayo Olukoga, Ed Cooper and the returning Ridwan Hassan from QPR made up the bench.

The Geordies had the better of the opening exchanges with Oladunjoye’s long throws causing particular problems to the home defence. However, they were unable to get their final shot away.

Hanwell were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal on 26 minutes as Poole, with their second attack, left the Geordies defence all over the place with Harvey Slade given ample time to pick his spot past the despairing dive from Sam Beasant.

Dan Carr, who scored a spectacular bicycle kick at Poole last season; a strike that would have won him goal of the season but for his even better finish against Plymouth Parkway on the final day, nearly had another sensational finish in the county of Dorset as his driving shot from 20 yards out rattled the crossbar as Hanwell looked to get back into the contest before half-time.

Poole, though, were organised in defence and continued to repel Hanwell and were dangerous on the break with Sam Beasant forced into making a couple of good saves before and after the half-time whistle.

The closest Hanwell came to rescuing a point came midway through the second half when Clayton found his way to a ball over the top but his first time effort was repelled by the Dolphins’ keeper.

As the clock ticked down, the home side sat back and looked to hit on the counter with their organisation keeping Hanwell from carving out any further chances, with the final whistle condemning them to an opening day defeat. It was Hanwell’s second 1-0 defeat in Dorset on the opening day in two seasons with Wimborne Town triumphing last year.

The Geordies have a chance to bounce back immediately, when they host Walton & Hersham on Tuesday night.