Wessex United 2–1 Aigburth FC: Benincasa finds a way
Floriano Benincasa knows a thing or two about the late scramble. Wessex United spent most of the match looking like they might just settle for a draw, which is the usual way of things. Then came the 85th minute. Quentin Glanville found a way to put the ball in the net, and suddenly the home crowd stopped worrying about their mortgages for a few seconds.
It was a proper, gritty performance. There is a certain kind of joy in a 2-1 win that feels like it was dragged uphill by a tractor. Benincasa did not try to play a fancy game. He just made sure his lads were in the right places to survive the Aigburth pressure. The tactics were simple: stay upright and hope the other lot make a mistake. It worked.
There is no time to spend the celebration money. Matchday 2 is tomorrow. Most managers would want a few days to breathe, but that is not how this league works. Benincasa has a bit of momentum now. He will probably spend the evening staring at a whiteboard, hoping he can get away with the same plan again before the luck runs out. It is a good start for a man who looks like he has already seen it all.