Farnham Town manager Paul Johnson praised his side after they got their Combined Counties Premier Division South campaign under way with a comprehensive 4-0 victory at Balham on Saturday.

Johnson has made no secret of his desire to secure promotion this season, and has brought in an array of new faces to The Memorial Ground this summer as well as keeping the nucleus of the squad which finished last season in excellent form and won the Southern Combination Cup.

Town’s promotion push got off to the perfect start when Shamal Edwards opened the scoring against Balham with a fine volley in the 31st minute.

New recruit Darryl Sanders doubled Farnham’s lead when he volleyed home on 39 minutes from Tom Smith’s assist.

Town extended their advantage in the 82nd minute when Lewis Flatman’s superb ball found new recruit Charlie Postance, who finished into the bottom corner.

Flatman made it 4-0 with an audacious chip in stoppage time, and Johnson was delighted with his side’s start to the league campaign.

“We dominated the first half,” he said.

“We got a little bit sloppy at the start of the second half, and if we had conceded then to make it 2-1 it could have been a different game.

“The substitutes came on and made a big impact for us.

“Shamal and Darryl took their goals well, and it was great that Charlie got himself up and running.

“Lewis has got such quality and it was great that he got his first of the season.

“One thing we do need to work on is being more clinical – we scored four but we could have had more.”

One player who has left Farnham in the past week is Lamin Ceesay, and Johnson has wished him well.

“Lamin wants a starting spot, but with our change of formation it’s difficult to get him in the side,” said Johnson.

“I wish him well and Lamin is definitely welcome back here – the door is always open for him.”

Attention now turns to Saturday’s game at home to Crowborough Athletic in the preliminary round of the FA Cup.

Farnham won 4-0 at Harefield United in the extra preliminary round, and it is hoped that a bumper crowd will pack The Memorial Ground on Saturday (3pm).

“The games are coming thick and fast, and that’s exactly the way we want it,” said Johnson.