A first-half red card could not stop Welwyn Garden City from opening their new Southern League Division One Central campaign with a superb win.

Aiden Read was given his marching orders on the stroke of half-time at Leverstock Green for a professional foul.

It was 1-1 at that point after Brad Wadkins had cancelled out a home strike.

But a Bailey Stevenson double and a superb defensive effort from the 10 men brought a 3-1 win to the delight of all in claret and blue.

Aiden Read was sent off for a professional foul at the end of the first half. Picture: LINDA BABAIEAiden Read was sent off for a professional foul at the end of the first half. Picture: LINDA BABAIE (Image: Linda Babaie)

There had been little complaint about the decision to dismiss Read, the centre-half left exposed by a woefully underhit backpass by defensive colleague Ryan Kirwan and left with little choice but to pull Levy forward Rawn Searle down.

But to their credit, WGC re-organised to great effect in the second period.

Manager Marc Weatherstone put loanee Charlie McDonald, back for an initial one-month spell from St Albans City, into the back-line and he played immaculately.

Skipper Wadkins meanwhile stepped into midfield having started up front.

The hosts were playing in step four for the first time having won promotion via the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division last season.

And they took the lead on 18 minutes.

Read had seen a header cleared off the line minutes earlier as Welwyn looked dangerous, but a poor pass from defender Alex Harris let the home side in.

Ademide Baruwa picked it up and although Kirwan held him up temporarily, he couldn’t win the ball back and the Leverstock man shot powerfully across Donny Green into the far corner.

It was setback for WGC but they began to battle back and drew level with Wadkins meeting a perfectly-flighted free-kick by debutant Lewis Croucher.

But following Read's dismissal, there were fears that Welwyn could be in for a torrid second period.

In truth though, you would have scarcely noticed WGC’s one-man depletion in the second-half, so well did they re-organise.

Twelve minutes after the restart, they were in front.

A long goal kick from Green found Stevenson. He took the ball down, turned inside a challenge and struck a powerful, low effort beyond Alfie Bonfield in fine style.

Keeper Green was called upon to make a couple of sharp saves midway through the half, holding onto efforts from Luke Beckwith and then from substitute Guiseppe Delguadio.

But with his defence in charge, he was rarely troubled as Leverstock Green’s revival seemed to run out of steam.

Stevenson ran onto a fine header from WGC substitute Henry Jones, only for home defender Rio Beach to get across to clear what would have been a second for the lively Citizens’ striker.

But he wasn’t going to be denied and three minutes from time, McDonald’s outstanding work in pulling down a clearance and volleying a pass forward set him up.

The control was again superb as was the shot, a rising effort that took a deflection to beat Bonfield and secure the decisive opening day victory.

WGC: D.Green, Otseh-Taiwo, Harris, Read, Kirwan, Bryant, McDonald, Croucher (Ansell 83), Jordan (Jones 70), Wadkins, Stevenson.

Subs (not used): Poku, Whichelow, Weatherstone.