Away at Cliftonville, Ops dominated from the first whistle, pinning the hosts in their own half with wave after wave of attacks. Despite the slow pitch making things difficult, the pressure finally told after 25 minutes when Phil Ithurralde scored with his first touch of the game.

Alex Wishart then made it 2–0 from a penalty flick, before Cliftonville pulled one back with a scrappy goal just before half-time.

After a strong team talk from new coach Jack Gooding, the floodgates opened in the second half. Short corners produced three more goals, with Wishart adding two and Paul Cheap one. Hugo Furneaux and 2nd XI league debutant Will Ball also got on the scoresheet with field goals.

By this point, the Cliftonville centre forward had seen enough and headed home — while the vidiprinter at Three Hills Sports Park had to type out “SEVEN”! ?

A superb start to the season, and the Optimists 2s go straight to the top of the league! ?⚪?