Steve Butterworth hails his Great Wakering Rovers side after victory at Felixstowe & Walton United

A Jack Stevenson brace, along with goals from Brandon Diau and Billy Johnson, ensured that Tom Debenham’s effort was no more than a consolation for Felixstowe.

And Butterworth was pleased to see Wakering get the new Isthmian North season off to a flying start.

Butterworth said: “For the opening 15 or 20 minutes, it felt like a typical pre-season game.

“But we then got a goal and we settled after that.

“We got another goal right on half-time, which set us up perfectly.

“Overall, it was a pleasing way to start the season and we were very good.

“Admittedly, the goal we conceded was scrappy, but we were in control of the game and I don’t think Felixstowe could have complained if we had scored six or seven goals.

“All three substitutes came on and contributed, so that was another pleasing aspect.”

Debutant Diau broke the deadlock just before the half hour mark and Wakering doubled their advantage as Stevenson found the back of the net on the stroke of half-time.

Matters got worse for Felixstowe as goalkeeper Danny Crump was sent off on the hour mark after handling the ball outside of the penalty area.

And the visitors added insult to injury as Stevenson converted the resulting free-kick.

Just three minutes after replacing Alfie Hilton, Johnson rounded off the scoring.

Butterworth was overjoyed to see Diau mark his debut with a goal.

“Brandon is 6’7” and I felt sorry for Martin Tuohy because I had to leave him out of the team even though he had a really good pre-season,” added Butterworth.

“But Brandon has come in and he is a focal point.

“He got the opening goal and it is fantastic that he is already off the mark.

“As a manager, you want your strikers to score their first goal of the season quickly.

“Hopefully he will build on that.

“He is a threat in front of goal and, if you’re under the cosh, you can clear the ball in the knowledge that he is more than capable of holding defenders off.”