Gav Sampson made his competitive return for Cardea FC in goal, having rejoined over the summer from Parkway Reserves. In the 3-5-2 formation Dale Moore, Tony Harper and Michael Williams played as centre backs.

Adam Simons and Kynan Bereznyckyj were the wingbacks with Shane Cooke, Stuart Yaxley and Daryl Patrick in midfield. Luke Penman and Tom Broughton started up front.

The first 20 minutes were quite even with both teams creating chances. The first notable chance involved two Cardea defenders. Wingback Simons crossed the ball in and centre back Williams headed the ball just over the bar.

Cardea goalkeeper Sampson had to be at his best half way through the first period to deny Artemis the lead. A powerful header from a corner was superbly tipped over by Sampson to keep the teams level.

The tide started to turn in Cardea's favour when midfielders Cooke and Patrick got forward to support the two strikers, with Yaxley sitting back to protect the defence from counter attacks.

Cardea took the lead after half an hour. Cooke crossed deep to the back post from the right and wingback Bereznyckyj controlled the ball and flicked it over the defenders head before passing to Patrick who scored the first goal of the season. Captain Patrick clearly enjoyed opening his 2014/15 account as he celebrated all the way back to the half way line.

The lead was doubled just before half time. Penman crossed in from the right and picked out Cooke in the box. Cooke had two attempts to strike the ball but couldn't make the correct contact but he made up for it on his third attempt as he scissor kicked the ball past the keeper.

The second half started the same as the first ended with Cardea on top. Cooke and Penman combined well to send Penman clean through on goal but his effort was saved by the legs of the Artemis keeper.

The two attackers combined again moments after and this time the goal was scored. Cooke passed to Penman on the edge of the area and he curled a shot into the corner of the goal.

Artemis pulled a goal back a couple of minutes later with a free header from a corner and set up a 10 minute period where Artemis had the better of the play.

On the half hour mark Aaron Yeoman made his return from injury as he came on to replace Moore, with Yaxley moving to centre back and Yeoman playing in midfield.

Halfway through the second period Cardea added a fourth goal. A backheel from Penman found Cooke who ran to the edge of the area and blasted the ball past the keeper.

Managers Craig Robinson and Kev Webster then brought on another three subs with Phil Brown, Daniel Robinson and Michael Creek coming into the action.

Cooke almost grabbed his hat-trick with twenty minutes to go. He picked the ball up on the halfway line and used his pace and skill to take it past every Artemis player in his path and get one on one with the goalkeeper, however he lost his composure and skied the ball over the bar to deny himself a great goal.

Cardea added their fifth after 75 minutes. A free kick from Williams was missed by the Artemis defender and Broughton nipped in behind and the 2013/14 top goalscorer opened this season's account in the first game.

Yeoman nearly scored on his comeback with an audacious effort from 25 yards but his shot went just wide.

The sixth goal came with 10 minutes to go, Robinson played the ball over the top for Broughton to run onto, the striker unselfishly squared to Patrick who scored his second goal of the game.

Broughton had to come off minutes later with a hamstring injury and Dale Moore went up front.

Penman had the last chance of the game when he beat the offside trap but couldn't get the ball past the keeper who saved with his legs.

The referee called the contest to an end and it was a great start for Division 3 champions Cardea FC, who now sit on top of Division 2 on goal difference after the first weekend of results.

Afterwards Craig Robinson said: "We made a slow start with no real tempo in the game, we could have gone one down but for a worldie save from Gav. Opening the scoring settled us down and being 2-0 at HT calmed any nerves. At 3-1 we had a sticky patch for 10 mins but we came through it and scoring 6 was a good morning's work."

Kev Webster added: "It was a quality display from front to back, all did what was asked of them and looked like a hard pre season had paid off. Had a slow start but as soon as we got the first goal we never looked out of control. The attacking threat of Cookie, Tommy b, Penman and Daz was causing all sorts of troubles and they all deserved their goals.

"For me the stand out player was Willy, never see him miss a header and if he could hit the target might have even bagged a goal or two himself. Quality throughout and was man of the match, the whole team played well in the second half despite conceding a goal there was some good football played."

Cardea FC have a week off league action next week as they take on Yaxley British Legion in a Hunts Sunday Cup contest at Queens Park, Yaxley.