London Colney made a promising start to the season after a 5-1 win at Leverstock Green in the Herts Charity Shield first round on Saturday.

The Blueboys dominated the early exchanges but had to wait until the 38th minute to take the lead.

Greg Shaw beat a defender and released Archie McClelland for a clinical, low finish past home goalkeeper Joel Canning.

The visitors doubled their lead early on in the second half when Seb Smith’s header was blocked and McClelland smashed the ball home from close range.

London Colney made it 3-0 just after the hour mark when Alfie Osborne and Russell Gallagher played an excellent one-two down the left wing which saw the latter drill a low strike into the net.

It got worse for the hosts after they were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of Dan Holliman for fouling Gallagher when through on goal.

The Blueboys did not have to wait long for a fourth goal when McClelland pounced from close range to complete his hat-trick.

London Colney added their final goal of the game when Jack Woods set up Jon Clements and he supplied the finish from 12 yards out.

Ten-man Leverstock Green netted a late consolation through a header from Karl Thomas.