Match ball sponsored by Bennetts Decorators
The Dragons welcomed Hackney Wick to the Blackstone Stadium, a side who had beaten Wivenhoe at home last season. Gary Monti again made changes to the starting team; Ross James was back at left back with Dean Merrett moved back to an unusual rigth back position. Tim Dennis, Peter Maina and David Lopez were also back in the starting eleven and there was a debut for new midfield signing Matt Tapley.
Wivenhoe went behind early, a poor pass back was intercepted and presented an easy chance for Hackney's Djop to give the visitors the lead. It was not a lead that lasted long, Wivenhoe went up the other end, won a penalty and saw it converted by Pete Maina. The Dragons quickly took the lead when David Lopez finished off a well worked move. Lopez then turned provider as he hit a great cross field pass to Tom Lakin, who finished off the move with a good finish. David Lopez was on the score sheet again before half time, this time he was set up by CJ Cabulo.
The Dragons had been cruising at the end of the first half but the second saw them start sloppily and concede almost immediately to make it 4 - 2. It could have got trickier for the Dragons if not for Ben Gallifant who was called upon to make a good save and maintain the Dragons two goal lead.
The Dragons then stepped it up, adding two further goals in the next ten minutes. CJ set up Peter Maina for his second of the match then Dean Merrett popped up with his fifth of the season, heading in at the far post from an in swinging freekick.
The final whistle brought to an end another strong free scoring Wivenhoe performance which keeps them towards the top of the early season table.