Brown's first came just 23 seconds into the game when he slipped in behind the Melrose defence.

Shannon Matthews doubled the advantage after four minutes before Brown completed his hat trick with two similar finishes in the 18^th and 27^th minutes.

He wasn't finished there as he scored his fourth in the 36^th minute with another classy effort.

Kade Rixon capatalised on a mistake from City goalkeeper Lachie James to pull one back for Melrose before the break.

The second half started in similar fashion for City as Aaron Young joined the party less than five minutes in, before Murray United product Obi Eze danced around the Melrose defence and scored the goal of the night to make it 7-1 inside the hour.

Melrose finished the game strongly and were rewarded with a second via Rixon five minutes from full-time as it finished 7-2.

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Albury City coach Ricky Piltz couldn't have asked for a much better start.

"For a first hit-out, the plan we put in motion at the start of the season with how we want to play was exactly as we wanted," he said.

"After such a long period without regular games, it's going to take quite a while for a lot of teams to get up to that 90-minute match fitness.

"Patty has been training really well in the pre-season. He's looking fit and he came in not carrying any injuries."

Eze also impressed Piltz on debut, while the defence, led by centre back Darian Maw was key.

"He's (Eze) a quality player and he looked really comfortable for a 15-year-old kid. He's fit in really well with what we've got." Piltz said.

"Darian is always relaxed and controls everybody which gives me the ability to put some young, inexperienced guys around him and have trust it will work.

"He's the heart and soul at centre back and really controls the game from there."

It was a tough initiation for Melrose co-coach Shane Ellwood after he took on the role on the eve of the season.

"It's not really what we set out to do. We wanted to be tight at the start," he said.

"We didn't achieve what we wanted, but we just have to go again next week.

"The boys didn't roll over completely, they kept going right till the end."

Youngster Taylin Fell was among the best for Melrose.

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