SIX was the order of the day for Port United as they kicked off their Football Mid North Coast Premier League campaign in style on Saturday.
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First grade banged in six goals after reserve grade did the same to celebrate coaches Nathan Wade and Dave Pugh's birthdays.
As a result they put six points in the bag on a comprehensive day out against Camden Haven.
First grade winger Adam Woonton scored a hat-trick as United turned a 2-0 half-time lead into a 6-1 demolition of the Redbacks.
Team manager Damien Cross admitted the visitors were "probably a little bit understrength", but he was pleased with his team's ruthless nature in front of goal.
"We scored early and in the second half we kept on scoring," he said.
Matt Bale claimed a brace while Harry Gordon also found the back of the net, but it was Woonton's performance that was the talking point.
"Adam hasn't been a goalscorer in recent years; he's been more of a winger who does a lot of running," Cross said.
"He has changed his game a little bit and now he's zeroing in on the goals instead of going to the corner flag."
The United coaching staff will hope the hamstring issues that plagued Woonton last year are behind him and he continues to improve.
Despite the undermanned nature of United on Saturday, the winger was always going to be in the starting side anyway.
He has changed his game a little bit and now he's zeroing in on the goals instead of going to the corner flag.
- Damien Cross on Adam Woonton
"He was (always) going to get a starting spot because his form from Nambucca was too good to leave out," Cross said.
"Before (last year) he would have been in reserve grade, but he is a lot fitter and has learned a bit more since then."
The 12-goal day indicated that United's depth won't be a problem for them as the season wears on.
"The depth of the club is very good at the moment; the only disappointing thing is you can only pick 11 players," Cross said.
"We'd like to pick 16 or 17 because there are that many who deserve to be there."
At times, United were methodical as they moved the ball around and made the Redbacks chase shadows in defence.
"We didn't rush as much as we have been at training, we slowed the tempo down rather than playing at a hundred miles an hour," the manager said.
"At different times we made them chase the ball a bit which was good."
Cross said it was a pleasing performance for all involved.
"You like your forwards to get on the scoresheet and gives them confidence for the rest of the year," he said.
"It's good to get the cookies in the tool shed and three points in the bag."
