On paper this always appeared to be a tough opener against a side that had finished third in the table last season, and so it proved to be, but it was heartening to see the Anvils give of their best before possible tiredness in the final half hour saw their eventual downfall.

Without inspirational skipper Blair Cooney, it was the same side that had featured in the Hailsham goal fest a week ago.

Anvils appeared to settle the quicker with Kerran Boylan and Sam Cane combining for a goal that was to be claimed as off side, another cross from Cane had Kieran Greig blazing well over, striker Boylan then had a shot taken by Dockers keeper Jason Buss.

After this initial burst the Dockers started to come more into the game with midfielder James Sowter calling Anvil keeper Andy Greaves into action, but the Anvils were the first to strike on 20 mins when Michael Belli took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to run the ball home for the Anvils opener 1-0 Anvils. Another chance came with Harry Lowe setting Mike Spence free but the midfielders shot swerved just wide, followed by a Josh Brown cross that Boylan could only head into the keepers hands.

By the half hour the Dockers started to make noises of their own with Kyle Woolven firing straight at Greaves, the keeper had to be alert to a Lee Robinson shot on 35, and a James Rhodes freekick being hacked clear, further chances for both sides came and went as the half ended with the Anvils holding their slender lead. 1-0 Anvils.

Come the second half and the expectant Dockers reply, first being Ryan Walton’s shot taken by Greaves, great scream for a Docker penalty turned down on 55, come minutes later and the equaliser thro Robinson who beat the onrushing Greaves to poke the ball home. 1-1.

Anvils fought back with Cane putting a Belli cross just wide and a header just over, next came Harry Lowe joining the party with a shot well taken by Buss, but come 64 and Saunders took advantage to cut thro the home defence and slot home the Dockers second 1-2 Newhaven.

On 65 it was all change on the Anvil bench with Oli Leslie replacing Boylan and Myles Pitt replacing the hard working Greig, later came Lee Thomas on for Cane, but come 78 and it was virtually game over with Walton driving home from outside the box 1-3 Newhaven, but a slight reprieve for the Anvils came on 80 with a Leslie penalty. 2-3 Newhaven, but parity was restored for the visitors thro Robinson again, this time on 84 to give game set and match to the visitors by a margin of 4-2 Newhaven.

Nobody said it would be easy back in the Premiership, but tho beaten by a strong top three outfit it was no disgrace, but their was enough to see in the Anvil display to suggest that consolidation should not be beyond their ambition this season.

Team: Andy Greaves, Sonny Barton, Harry Lowe, Mike Spence, Marc Pelling, James Day, Kieran Greig (Myles Pitt), Michael Belli, Kerran Boylan (Oli Leslie), Sam Cane (Lee Thomas), Josh Brown

MOM: Michael Belli Attn: 99