I JOKED soon after becoming Willington Under-15s' manager that I wanted to "improve" my team's disciplinary record, which apparently contains just one booking in the previous five years.

I didn't expect that light-hearted vow to come true inside the first 14 minutes of our first League game!

Harry Drummond, our striker, had just been warned for pushing an opponent as they fought for the ball when he committed another foul - and was booked.

So, that's one yellow card in more than 100 games for Willington - and then a caution almost as soon as I took charge!

That did not take the shine off a good day for the team, however, which ended with a fine 2-0 win at Premier Division newcomers Parkside.

Some of our football was wondrous, and we made and missed a number of chances.

Ultimately, then, it was surprising that neither of our goals came from our flowing moves.

Joe Fairish, a tigerish midfielder and man of the match on Sunday, chipped the goalkeeper from 30 yards - but the referee had just stopped play for an infringement.

So, a couple of minutes later, he repeated the trick - smashing the ball over the keeper first-time from 40 yards!

And having spent so long working on corners in training in recent weeks, I felt particularly proud a minute before half time when we doubled our lead.

An inswinging corner floated over their keeper, who pulled off several impressive saves during the game, and was headed home by Drummond.

We could have added to their lead in the second half, although Parkside gave us the occasional scare as the game became more stretched and both sides tired in the hot weather.

But we got the result and, for good measure, gave more than a glimpse of our attacking potential.

Today, we stand third in the table, having been the only one of 12 Premier Division teams that played on Sunday to keep a clean sheet.

This weekend, we host Peterlee Oakley Travel - who finished a place and a point ahead of us last season.

They also won last week, beating Washington Dunlop 3-2, so we will again need to be approaching our best.

But for the moment, I'm basking in the glow of our opening day win.

Played one, won one. It's a League record that the North-East's premier clubs can only dream of this season!

I am wearing a smile as wide as the mouth of the Tyne today as I am the bearer of glorious news concerning our search for a sponsor.

Yesterday, I ordered a new home strip for the lads after the award-winning Media Design Centre at Darlington College agreed to give us generous financial backing.

It means we should be kitted out in our new blue and white kit in time for our League Cup first round tie on September 28.

Tony Metcalf, head of the School of Journalism at the college, said: "We are delighted to be helping out Willington and I'm sure we'll be a winning combination."

Furthermore, last night I received £350 worth of curry and beer vouchers from Lord Harpole, owner of Newcastle's world-famous Rupalis restaurant.

Selling those will bring in more much-needed funds for the club - although at this rate my players will be demanding win bonuses!