Three victories, seven goals scored, none conceded.

After last season’s mediocrity, Kingstonian could not have dreamt of a better start to the new Ryman Premier campaign and duly went top of the league after a 3-0 home win over East Thurrock on Saturday.

The Essex side have proved awkward opposition in recent years but this is a leaner, meaner Ks team, steely at the back and sharp going forward.

All the talk this summer was of the return of Bobby Traynor - but with the Ks legend farmed out to Walton Casuals to regain his fitness, the line has been led by Ryan Moss, a new arrival from Hampton & Richmond, of whom few had heard.

Moss, an anatomical pathology technician by trade, has provided movement and hold-up play of real intelligence as manager Alan Dowson experiments with a 4-2-3-1. His ability to find space was on show in the 30th minute when he drifted wide of the Rooks defence before drilling a vicious shot into the corner after a well-worked free-kick routine.

It was an opening period of real enterprise, with Daniel Sweeney and Matt Pattison prompting the full-backs to overlap, while Matt Somner and Tommy Kavanagh protected the base of the midfield.

But the victory was far from secure at 1-0, with former Ks wingers, Nathan Koranteng and Luke Wanadio, causing problems on both flanks.

Moss nevertheless made it safe in the 60th minute, bundling the ball across the line from close-range.

Enter substitute Andre McCollin, whom Moss kept out of the starting 11, who is never better than when he has a point to prove. Last season’s top scorer executed an astonishing left-foot volley to make it 3-0 with almost his first touch.

With the ball rising from a square Sweeney pass on the edge of the box, McCollin swivelled to send the ball into the top corner, celebrating defiantly with a playful gesture to the bench.

“Andre understood why he was left out,” said K’s assistant coach Martin Tyler. “He got a very bad head injury early in the game on Monday.

"We knew he was OK to play today but he understood that the team that carried us through on Monday would start the game. We’re lucky to have him.

"He’s got that X-factor about him. He’s scored some great goals for us but I should imagine that’s the best.”

Ks head to Harrow on Tuesday night and Wingate & Finchley next Saturday before a home derby against Hampton & Richmond on bank holiday Monday.