Corinthian Casuals cruised past a highly rated Worthing side on the opening day of the Ryman League Division One season and boss James Bracken admitted it had been a long time coming.

A first half brace from Emmanuel Akokhia was enough to secure a 2-0 win over their coastal visitors, but it easily could've been more in a dominant display.

Former Sutton United reserve team manager Bracken took over the reigns at King George's Field in the summer following the depature of Matt Howard to Carshalton Athletic - 4-0 losers at home to Dorking Wanderers on Saturday.

The new manager has overhauled the squad Howard built last term handing many players their first shot at first team football.

The move paid fantastic dividends on the opening day, but Bracken insisted his men must keep their feet on the ground ahead of Tuesday's trip to Tooting & Mitcham United.

 “I thought we were fantastic from the first whistle," he said.

"We never let Worthing settle into any style of play.

"They’ve tried to change it three or four times throughout the game, but whatever they did, it didn’t work.

"It’s come down to the fact that we wanted it that little bit more.

“Some of the boys have been focused on this first team opportunity for three or four years and now they’ve got it, they’re hungry to grasp hold of it.

“Obviously, it’s about maintaining it now. This is just one game. We won’t get carried away but it’s a great start."

Akokhia opened the scoring with a well-placed fourth minute shot before adding to his tally by rounding the keeper to slot into an empty net just before the half hour mark.

It could have been more with Diego Maradona forcing excellent saves from the Worthing keeper, who kept the scoreline repectable in the first half.

Elsewhere in the division, Walton & Hersham opened up with a 4-1 thrashing of Whitstable Town thanks in part to an Andrew Mensah double.

Molesey made their return to the Ryman Division One South with a 3-1 defeat at Folkstone Invicta with Sam Robinson bagging the consolation.

And Walton Casuals, now playing home games at Merstham, started the season - under new manager Anthony Gale - with a 2-1 defeat to Ramsgate.

A Jordan Cheadle double gave Tooting & Mitcham United a 2-1 win at East Grinstead Town.