IAN CHAMPION has won his first trophy as Bels boss but he had to phone a friend to find out.

Stand-in Bels coach Leighton Chainey took a call from the holidaying Bels boss before the end of last night’s traditional curtain-raiser to the new season, and as well as hearing the positive result he should have heard how decently the men from the Track played on enemy territory at Northfield.

The better side won, there is no doubt about that.

‘It’s always nice to get the first trophy and it puts down a marker for us,’ said Chainey, who likes what he sees in terms of a strong Bels squad for the long campaign ahead.

‘I think we played the better football and although both teams were missing players we coped better,’ he said.

In his own absence from the heart of the Bels defence, the visitors played three at the back, four in midfield and Dave Rihoy playing off the front two of Antony Saunders and Neil Clegg.

It seems a potent strike force and might have brought several more goals but for better finishing.

North, to their credit, kept battling and finished strongly enough, but were carrying too many passengers on this occasion.