Lismore Thistles Premier League side, under new coach Chris Layland, put in a Jekyll and Hyde performance in their first match of the season at Bangalow in Football Far Nortth Coast's Tursa Employment & Training ANZAC Day Cup.

"We totally dominated the first half and I was very pleased with how they played. We should have been three goals up and yet came off at half-time at one all," said Layland.

Striker Isaac Essery was the goalscorer, equalising the opening goal from the Bluedogs and then it was all Thistles, keeping possession and building attacking patterns.

"The new player, 18-year-old Jadyn Dwyer, was the best player on the park. He has come from playing on the Gold Coast and will be a tremendous asset."

When the players came out for the second half, Layland was shocked at what he saw.

"The second half was a totally different story. I think we took too much confidence from the first half and thought it was going to be easy," said Layland.

"Within eight minutes we were down 3-1. Two of the goals were from deflections that hurt us but at two goals down we panicked, we were playing long balls, giving it away. We totally lost our shape and I believe went into old habits."

The Bluedogs won 3-1 with goals from Struan Soutar, Josh Cole and Mariano Kone.

"It was a good hit out and I liked how the boys got through the game - we had conditioned them up. We need to keep our heads and build on what we did in the first half. If we kill those old habits we will be fine," said Layland.

Layland added he was looking forward to the forthcoming ANZAC Day Cup matches against Richmond Rovers and Byron Bay.

"There will be good tests for us," he said.

Lismore Thistles: Eamonn Wilde; Dean Marshall, Brendan Tickle, Mitchell Beardow; Jadyn Dwyer, Oscar Stahl, Kaleb Gooley; Jye Wilson, Isaac Essery, Wyley Drew, Sam McCallman, Ben Albertini, Matt Wicks, Nick Rhodes, Joel Worgan, James Hunt.

Fixtures Round 1

ANZAC Day Cup Premier League

Lismore Thistles 1 Bangalow Bluedogs 3, John Ryan Field, East Lismore;

Maclean Bobcats 1 v South Lismore Celtic 2, Wherrett Park, Maclean;

Goonellabah v Alstonville, Weston Park, Goonellabah, Sunday, 4:30pm;

Byron Bay v Richmond Rovers, Recreation Grounds, Byron Bay, Sunday, 4:30pm.