The twenty fifth Southend Borough Combination Veterans League season kicked off on Sunday and saw Eastwoodbury Ramblers as early table toppers after a 6-0 win over newly-promoted Vange & Pitsea WMC.
Allen hit the first Premier Division hat-trick of the season for the Ramblers. Rochford, last season's Division One Champions fought out a credible 2-2 draw at Hullbridge Sports.
But the surprise of the day came when league new boys Rayleigh Avenue beat champions Tag United.
Brit Academicals carried on where they left off last season in Division One. They still hold the enviable record of winning every league game they have played in, and on Sunday they dispatched Ambleside 5-0.
Things were much tighter down in Canvey where Second Division champions Mondel returned to the the higher level of football with a 3-2 win over Stambridge United.
The other newly-promoted side, Southend Supporters, were not so lucky as Chalkwell United marched away with the points in a 3-1 win.
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