Following a Pre-Season of promise, optimism was in the Hullbridge air ahead of the opening game of the league season. And, it's fair to say, that optimism was justified come the fulltime whistle with Darren Manning's side coming away with a 7-0 victory.

Yet, despite the optimism, there still would have been some nerves from a Hullbridge point of view. The thought that all of the hard work done in Pre-Season could go to waste on the opening day would have signalled some butterflies in the Bridge ranks.

Just two minutes into the game, however, and those butterflies were as non-existent as the Witham clean sheet. The goal, courtesy of a Callum Fitzer, ended up going down as an own goal with the ball striking Julian Simon-Parson before finding the back of the net.

A sigh of relief within the Hullbridge dugout was quickly met with the cheer of a goal. The away side couldn't have had a more perfect start to proceedings and neither could Callum Fitzer.

Admittedly, though, the Hullbridge goal did not signal a period of away dominance, but, instead, the exact opposite. Witham responded well, creating a few chances of their own and almost forcing a goal from a corner of their own. The hope, which would be inevitably crushed, survived until the last 10 minutes of the half.

The hosts would have been hoping to head into half time with just the one-goal deficit. That plan was soon foiled, however, by Callum Fitzer who continued to cause the home side problems. This time, there could be no disputes as to the goalscorer with Fitzer's left-footed strike finding the bottom corner to put Hullbridge two goals to the good.

And that's how the half ended. As the half time whistle sounded, it was clear that this was a better Hullbridge side in comparison to last season; a side ready to take the league by storm. Just last season, Darren Manning's side lost to Witham on the opening day by three goals to nil.

Just a season later, and Hullbridge were comfortably two goals to the good at the break. If that's not a sign of significant progression, I don't know what is. If there were any remaining doubts of the previously mentioned improvement, too, Hullbridge soon added the goals to convince the remaining doubters.

As the clock struck the 50th minute, just five minutes into the half, Eman Akunja's goal finished the game off. It is Kieron Bishop who will get most of the credit, however. His driving run to the byline, alongside the cut back which followed, found the feet of Akunja who could tap in with ease for number three.

On another day, Hullbridge may have sat back on a 3-0 lead, rested players, and ensured the clean sheet. But this was a chance to make a statement; the chance to finish matchday one at the top of the league, and it was an opportunity they took.

Nathan Scarborough's header, following the corner, found the fourth just four minutes after Akunja's goal to make it three. It was as ruthless as ruthless gets from Hullbridge, who then added the fifth, sixth and resounding seventh all in the last 10 minutes.

Lewis Watson entered the pitch in the 68th minute before finding the net in the 80th with a superb headed finish. The new man then added the sixth in stunning individual fashion, almost claiming a starting place whilst doing so, as he slalomed through the Witham defence before finishing expertly.

Darren Manning found the perfect recipe for success against a Witham side who previously caused Hullbridge problems. The recipe, which perhaps formed a big well-done cake needed a cherry on top, however.

And, in what proved to be the last kick of the game, Callum Fitzer provided that finishing touch by adding a resounding seventh. Hullbridge had made a statement in dominant fashion to take them top of the tree after matchday one.

Following the resounding result, Manning reinforced the importance of the victory, saying: "When you put a performance like that in, it just makes the players believe more and more in what we're doing, it makes them enjoy more in what we're doing, it makes them want to focus and kick on more".

The Hullbridge boss was also keen to speak about the chance to now become consistent in contrast to last season, saying: "We was guilty last year of putting in really good performances and then letting our standards drop in the next one, so, now, it's all about us trying to focus and move onto the next game."

Should they find that consistency, too, we could be talking about Hullbridge as the team to watch this season as they look to break into the top half in just their second season in the Isthmian League.

The work done in Pre-Season certainly warranted success on the opening day, and it was the work done by the management team which helped Hullbridge to victory according to Callum Fitzer, who said: " They deserve massive credit like I say, they've spent a lot of time off the pitch, and they're doing everything they can to give us the tools to perform and use our ability."

It all seems to be coming together at the Bridge. The task will now be to become consistent following a statement-making thrashing of Witham Town on the opening day of the Isthmian season.