By Phil Ravitz PROMOTED pair Clapton Rangers and Wentworth Arms both began their Premier lives with victories. Wentworth featured in one of the games of the day, when they met the always competitive Albion Manor. The Goldsmiths Row side had a hat-trick he

By Phil Ravitz

PROMOTED pair Clapton Rangers and Wentworth Arms both began their Premier lives with victories.

Wentworth featured in one of the games of the day, when they met the always competitive Albion Manor.

The Goldsmiths Row side had a hat-trick hero in Darren Whelan, who got all their goals, but Manor were outdone by a late Wentworth rally that saw them win 4-3 thanks to a Sam Cassman double and goals from Vinny Williams and Ashley Diamond.

Clapton overcame Old King John's Head (formerly Pollard Utd) 4-0 thanks to a quartet of goals all coming in the final 20 minutes. There were two apiece from last season's top scorers Daniel Senghore and Nathan Scarborough.

Lapton showed no sign of easily relinquishing the Premier crown they have won twice in successive seasons and the Dalston outfit opened their account with a comfortable 3-0 win over Bancroft, thanks to Dean Robinson, Dean Phillips and Jason Elliott.

Lapton will face a stern test early on, when they clash with London Sunday Intermediate Cup winners Eureka, in a Hackney derby, at Victoria Park on Sunday.

Three Compasses took a point off last season's runners-up Black Meteors in a 3-3 draw. Daniel and John Fitzpatrick were on the mark for Dalston's Compasses along with Chris Greenhow.

There was a high scoring start for FC Metwin, formerly Kenton Arms, in Div 1. They crushed Leyton Trades 8-2 with five from top scorer James Smith. Ashley and Alan Eames and Metwin Lowden got the other goals.

Stoke Newington's Army & Navy had to come back from behind to overcome newcomers Real Romania, for whom Ionut Corpeanu scored. Jamie McDonald bagged A & N's equaliser and then Tony Scally found a second-half winner for the Hackney side.

London Aprillia, relegated from the top division last season, showed they could find life easier in the lower section. They began hammering Wounded Knee 5-0.

Athletico Angels are expected to be up among the front-runners in Division 2 this season again and they got off to a confident start with a 3-0 defeat of Old George, thanks to goals from Andrew Brockbank, Ashley Greene and Michael Case.

There were differing fortunes for the promoted pair. FC Highstone, who won last season's Div 3 on goal difference, were comfortable winners over Walthamstow Village, 6-1 thanks to a pair from Phil Melling and goals from Andre Charles, Felix, Jean Victor and Danny Smallwood.

In the Homerton derby, Rangers proved much too strong for Hospital Tavern, who were promoted alongside FC Highstone, in a 5-1 victory. Sanchez Daniel got a hat-trick and skipper Lee Greenaway two for Rangers with John Kelly netting the Tavern's only reply, from the penalty spot.

FC Lockers scored seven in their defeat of new side AC Scorpions in a 7-1 victory. Cass Weaver scored three, Brian Dobson provided a pair and Tom Pearson and Ross Coleman also scored. Adrian Watson got Scorpions' only goal.

In Div 3, new side Lammas will be pleased with their start to life in the league. They overcame established team FC Big Kahuna 4-1 with Dennis Osborne netting three and Scott Langran a single.