BOWERS & Pitsea Ladies got their first campaign as a club off to a solid start.

First half goals from summer signing Sabrina Campbell and Abbie Simmonds enabled Bowers to record a 2-1 win over newly-promoted Hatfield Peverel.

And Darren Fraser, who has led the club through the name change from Little Thurrock Dynamos to Bowers & Pitsea Ladies, was pleased to see his side make a winning start to the Eastern Regional Women’s Football League season.

The Bowers manager said: “It was very pleasing to pick up three points in the opening game of the season.

“We have had a lot of new players come in over the last few weeks and that has resulted in us changing the dynamic of the squad a bit.

“I was pleased with the performances and there were a lot of positives to take from the game.

“But we have got to be more clinical in front of goal and score more goals when we create the chances.

“It was disappointing not to keep a clean sheet because they scored with just a few minutes left, but our goalkeeper had only been with us for a few days and hadn’t really had a chance to train with our defenders before the game.”

Bowers got off to a perfect start when Georgia Fraser’s well-struck free-kick came back off the crossbar and Campbell was on hand to tap home from close range.

Chances continued to come the visitors’ way but they were unable to double their advantage until the stroke of half-time, when Simmonds bundled the ball into the back of the net.

The home goalkeeper was regularly tested but Hatfield Peverel halved the deficit to make for a nervy final few minutes.

Goalkeeper Charlotte Stephens was deceived by an awkward bounce on a dry pitch and the hosts grabbed a consolation.