Redbridge look determined to make the most of their dramatic reprieve from relegation out of the Isthmian Division One North after a 2-1 opening-day win over Witham Town on Saturday.
Dave Ross and Ricky Eaton’s side survived by the skin of their teeth after the summer after initially being informed they would face the drop.
However, the Motormen clung onto their place at step four of the non-league pyramid and made the ideal start to the new campaign thanks to a brace from Michael Ogboin.
It took eight minutes for Redbridge to get their 2015/16 campaign up-and-running, Ogboin converting from 12 yards for the home side.
And Redbridge doubled their lead eight minutes later when Ogboin pounced to double his personal tally.
A third might have followed before the break but Eamon Payne fired against the underside of the crossbar.
Ogboin really should have completed his hat-trick with 20 minutes remaining after being hauled down by goalkeeper Jason Baker. The keeper was booked for his troubles but atoned for his error by denying the forward a hat-trick.
Redbridge held onto the win even after John Watson broke through and fired past Jack Avery to halve the deficit.
On Tuesday the Motormen travel to Maldon.
Waltham Abbey could not begin Martin Hayes’ reign as manager with a win and were instead beaten 2-1 at home by Brightlingsea Regent.
The Abbots had made the ideal start at Capershotts when Ryan Flack raced onto a long ball over the top of the Regent backline and strode into space before firing home the opener.
But the R’s pulled level when Luke Read curled a superb free-kick home. And with 20 minutes remaining, the visitors went in front for the first time as Lamell Howell marked his debut with what proved to be the winner Abbey travel to Soham Town Rangers on Tuesday evening.
In the Essex Senior League, Waltham Forest kicked off their second campaign at step five with a 1-1 draw at Southend Manor.
Forest, now under the management Terry Fogerty, took the lead four minutes before half time when Manny Ibhadon struck.
But the hosts ensured a share of the spoils 19 minutes from time when Jason Warner netted.
Forest host Barking on Wednesday.
ESL new-boys Wadham Lodge picked up a last-gasp win over Stansted in their first match at that level thanks to Charlie Georgiou's 91st-minute winner.
Wadham coach Neil Day was delighted with the result and attitude of the team and commented: “Stansted made things difficult for us with their direct play and getting bodies behind the ball and it would have been easy to have got frustrated by that. We stuck by our principles, kept knocking on the door and finally that pressure told.”
Earlier it had looked a more straightforward task for Tony Ilevoli's new-look side as Steven Ellery slotted home the club's first ESL goal from the penalty spot on six minutes.
To their credit, Stansted worked hard to gain a foothold in the game and were level on 21 minutes as Oliver Fortune exploited gaps in the Wadham defence to drive the ball beyond Daniel Mulrooney.
Wadham always looked the more likely in a tempestuous second half that saw Stansted reduced to 10 men seconds after Georgiou's penalty box trickery had put his side in the ascendency.
Day was quick to praise Georgiou after his injury time strike settled matters at Kitchener Road: “Charlie's had a tough pre- season and it was great to see him looking more like his old self today, on his day he will be a handful for any defence in this league this season.”
Lodge travel Enfield 1893 on Tuesday.
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