The first league game of the season saw Pace pitted against Michelmersh & Timsbury the winners & runners up from Mini Soccer's Yellow League last year so a tough game was in prospect.

Pace started as if they hadn't got out of bed, even after a great warm up and some words of encouragement from the management the team struggled to come to terms with the pace of the game.

Michelmersh had several attacks on goal which had to be snuffed out at the last moment by Jack Nicholson between the sticks or Mattie Wateridge sweeping up.

Pace first clear cut opportunity on goal came as Micheal Donovan burst into the box but was strongly tackled from behind, was it a penalty, wasn't it a penalty?

It wasn't until pace forced a corner on the left that they swung into the game with a floated ball by Sam Kirkham met by Lucas McCartney on his head, attacking at the near post looping the ball over the Michelmersh goalie into the net.

The goal had come against the run of play but within minutes lack of concentration gave Michelmersh a way back into the game, a low cross from the right easily fed into an empty net by an unmarked striker making the score 1-1 at half time.

After words from the managers at half time Pace looked a lot brighter on the ball after the break with some super wing play with Kieran Hine swinging in crosses that just evaded the strikers.

With subs coming on and a change of formation Pace began attack after attack on the Michelmersh goal with the keeper taking the brunt it and making some good saves.

The ball came back off the post as was cleared off the line and it was starting to look like it wasn't going to be Pace's day.

The Panthers nerves had finally disappeared and they started to knock the ball around with some fluency they laid siege to the Michelmersh goal but were unable to find the breakthrough they probably deserved.

Pace Manager Steve Portwood said "The boys all showed a great hunger to do well this season, and nothing more could have been asked of them throughout the game and I am very proud of them all and they should be of themselves. However, they all went home feeling numb when a second half that saw M&T confined to their half saw no goals"