Dial got their 2025/26 Surrey Premier County Football League campaign off to a flying start after registering a 2-0 win against Battersea Ironsides at Alwyns Lane this afternoon (23 Aug).

A brace from striker Harry Rice proved to be the difference between Dial and their South London opponents, which set the tone for things to come.

After a good pre-season win over Molesey in midweek, Dial had a spring in their step which was evident from the first whistle.

Dial enjoyed plenty of possession during the opening 20 minutes, with wingers Jordan Carter and Ollie Knight both creating problems for The Irons' defence. But it was new signing Zac Hawker who almost drew first blood when his half-volley, from 20 yards, flew over the bar midway through the first period.

However, the hosts needed to be on guard when former Cranleigh shot-stopper George Mead was forced to tip over Nandeli Pelembe's effort, which looked destined for the top corner a minute later.

At the other end, Ross Jefferies palmed away Carter's low shot, before Harry Rice managed to breach the Iron's backline, but the striker was unable to hit the target from an acute angle

But Dial were eventually rewarded for their endeavours when George Lawrence was pushed in the box, with referee Oliver Sunderland making no hesitation on pointing to the penalty spot, much to the opposition's disdain. Rice stepped up comfortably convert the penalty kick to give Dial the lead in the fourth minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

The visitors sought to hit back just two minutes after the restart, but substitute Luke Agalawatta shot straight at Mead. As Dial began to lower their intensity, fellow Irons' substitute Patrick Mills-Munday saw his shot blocked midway though the second half as the South Londoners looked to capitaise on the counter-attack.

New Dial signing Tommy Adag caught the eye shortly after entering the fray, but he sliced his half-volley wide of the target from 12 yards.

Shortly after, Jefferies did well to stop a blistering 20-yard shot from Dan Cenzano in the dying embers of the match.

But when Rice was put clean through on goal in the fifth-minute of stoppage time, there was only likely to be one outcome as Rice claimed his second of the afternoon to give Dial a well-deserved 2-0 win.

Speaking after the match, Dial boss Steve Brown said: "After an up and down pre-season, I thought we were excellent against Battersea [Ironsides]. We dominated the game for long spells and eventually got our reward at the end of the first half.

"We weren't quite as fluid in the second half, which was largely down to Battersea getting numbers behind the ball and making it awkward for us, but I was pleased with the resilience we showed and keeping a clean sheet.

"It's a great start along with some really good individual performances, but there's still plenty we need to work on over the coming weeks. That said, I'm pleased with how things are coming together and how well the new lads are settling in," he added.

DIAL SQUARE: Mead, Phillips, Vassell, Hawker, Vass (Corner), Xavier, Carter (Cenzano), Frith, Rice, Lawrence (Adag), Knight. Unused subs: Rose-Davies, Fortune.

MotM: Harry Rice