THE East London Sunday League made a tentative start to its new campaign last Sunday, with just three Division 1 games being completed to herald the season. There should have been five games scheduled, but a Division 2 clash between Byron Athletic and Adr

THE East London Sunday League made a tentative start to its new campaign last Sunday, with just three Division 1 games being completed to herald the season.

There should have been five games scheduled, but a Division 2 clash between Byron Athletic and Adriatku and the meeting of London Utd ACC and Royal Falcons in Division 3 didn't take place.

Individual performance of the day was undoubtedly the goal-scoring prowess of John Gilroy of Arbour Athletic, the Stepney side that so narrowly missed promotion to the Premier last season.

In a clash with new boys Tube Lines, a team of rail workers from Stratford, Arbour came from behind three times, at 2-0, 3-1 and finally at 4-3 to force a 4-4 draw. Gilroy scored all four of his side's goals to underline that Arbour will be to the fore of the Div 1 title race again this season.

Another side who went close last time and of whom much is expected, are East Moore. They looked as though they had made a winning start in their clash with Reama, relegated from the Premier, East Moore leading 3-1. But Reama powered back into the match late on to score twice and force another high scoring draw, 3-3.

The other game played resulted in a solid 3-1 victory for league newcomers White Swan & Cuckoo, who ensured that Hackney Downs' B team got their campaign off on the wrong foot.

lLeague champions Meath United don't start their Premier programme for a fortnight, but they warmed up with an emphatic 7-2 win over Adriatiku, of Div 1, in a friendly.

Meath showed that they are going to be a force again and comfortably won this one thanks to a Danny Bradshaw hat-trick and two goals apiece from Johnny Quinn and Danny Linger.