Our first home game against Walthamstow did not give us the flying start for which we had hoped, but rather seemed to highlight some of our problems.

Not by way of an excuse but more for the record, David Shacklock came off with a twisted ankle after only 18 minutes, being replaced by Barrie Davies, and almost at full-time Peter Anderson was taken off with a suspected facture of the leg. Subsequent X-rays fortunately revealed no break but severe bruising.

In a game where a strong bustling Avenue side never allowed us to settle down, Paul Collett headed in a cross from the left after 40 minutes to give Walthamstow the lead, an advantage that was nullified a minute later, however, when Rod Haider equalised. Rod, in spite of being harassed by two defenders, held on tenaciously to nod the ball forward and kick in from close range.

Our grip on even one point was broken 27 minutes after the restart when Brian Jackson shot the visitors into the lead, and completed the scoring for the day.