JC MSFL Oakwood manager Alex Schock described his side as the "best passing team in the division" as they secured an impressive opening day win over Division One new boys Chigwell Athletic.
His side's free-flowing game - which ironically yielded both its goals from Chigwell mistakes - warranted at least a 2-0 win, as Chigwell spent much of the match chasing shadows.
Schock said: "We are the best footballing side in this division by a distance. We just need to make sure we don't get a fixture pile-up like last year which cost us. We have 21 players to choose from so there will never be a week when we don't have a strong side. Everyone is good enough to play."
Oakwood got off to a perfect start when Daniel Abrams floated in a free- kick from the left which was met with a thumping header into the top corner from recent signing Louis Basger, last year's JC MSFL Player of the Year. The former Lions star found an immediate rapport alongside fellow centre-back with Ilan Scorah, which Schock hopes "will lay the foundation blocks" for achieving promotion.
A brilliant move down their right might have sent Oakwood two-up at the break. Daniel Ash, who was a threat all morning, sent an inch-perfect cross on to the head of Antony Kintish who forced a brilliant tip-over from Chigwell keeper Neil Wolfson.
The best two chances for Chigwell, who were missing seven first-teamers, came in the first half as Steve Summers, who has re-signed after a year-long absence, missed his kick from 10 yards after a pull-back and also saw a lob go just wide of goal.
The second half started disastrously for Chigwell as Lawson, who had difficulties with kicking all match, miscued a clearance straight to Eddie Manson who headed straight back into the Chigwell box for Kintish to slot coolly under the keeper's legs.
In the last 30 minutes, Kintish went narrowly wide with a shot, Manson missed a volley and a late-free kick by Abrams was tipped over by Wolfson as Chigwell, who failed to get any sort of passing game going, failed to get near the Oakwood goal.
Chigwell manager Richard Slater acknowledged his side's deficiencies but warned Oakwood that the next fixture, which is in two weeks, could yield a different outcome. He said: "We conceded two stupid goals which is irritating, but in truth we didn't play well.
"Today's result doesn't make me suddenly think we can't compete for the league, which is our target. We can beat them at home with more of our players back."
Oakwood: Gee, Davidson, Basger, Scorah, Beilin, Ash, Manson, Levine, Abrams, Kintish, Myers (sub: Librae)
Chigwell: Lawson, Fagelson, Davis, Swead, Marks, Conway, Castle, G. Michaels, Weinstein, Yershon (sub: D. Michaels) Summers
