Goals: 0:1 Paul Gagetti (3.); 0:2 Alex Oloriebe (5.); 1:2 Justin Selkirk (51.)

A brace of goals inside the opening four minutes proved enough for Woden Valley to start the 2011 Rock Premier League with a victory as they travelled to the Riverside Stadium in Queanbeyan and defeated Monaro Panthers 2-1. The visitors couldn’t have asked for a better start to the match than an early goal and they duly got it when Paul Gagetti struck inside three minutes. Amazingly, whilst the travelling Woden support was still celebrating the opener, Alex Oloriegbe gave them even more reason to be cheerful by doubling the lead within sixty seconds. It was the rapid striker’s first competitive goal for the club but isn’t likely to be his last. This double setback stunned the Panthers and they really should have found a way back into the game before Justin Selkirk’s 51st minute goal made the score 2-1. Presented with a gilt-edged chance to score his first Premier League goal for his new club from the penalty spot, striker Mark Shields saw his well-hit effort magnificently saved by young Jack Pettit in the Woden goal. The goalkeeper could do little to deny Selkirk though and that meant a nervy last forty or so minutes for Woden. They did enough to hold on though and claim a crucial opening day win that should settle any pre-season jitters.

Woden Valley: 1. Jack Pettit (gk), 2. Cameron Gordon, 3. Paul Gagetti, 6. Tom Hirst, 7. Alex Oloriegbe, 8. Simon Hinde, 9. Muad Zwed, 10. Ben Pagett, 13. Samale Mohamed, 14. Hector Alamos, 15. Matt Kocic

Substitutes used: 5. Micah Johnson, 11. Tim Womack, 12. Lachlan Nichols

Monaro Panthers: 1. Matt McDonald (gk), 3. Cyffin Evans, 4. David Baillie, 5. Justin Selkirk, 7. Geoff Howarth, 8. Daniel Colbertaldo, 9. Stewart Jones, 10. Mark Shields, 11. Dom Falla, 12. Jake Stein, 15. Mario Polegubic

Substitutes used: 6. Luke McGrath

Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 3. Cyffin Evans (Monaro Panthers)

Match Officials: Richard Naumovski (referee), Matt Rynne, Richard Brown