Stanley Nsoki got his first ever touch in Union’s colours early. It was simple, nothing really, the interception of a short pass from Simon Gollnack just inside his own box. But just as his partner in the middle of the back four, Oluwaseun Ogbemudia, had during his own debut appearance for Union here in this little gem of a stadium two seasons ago, it was a promising beginning.

He held off the terrier-like attentions of Lucas Will on the halfway line with the greatest of ease, if his attempted early lob upfield showed his radar still needed a little adjustment after a long time out; it sailed away over the small bank of fans and over the fence. But with half an hour played he would crash one player almost into the opposition dugout with one challenge, before popping up in the middle seconds later, having somehow seen Lucas Will’s cleverly slid pass before any of his teammates.

Ogbemudia looked typically assured next to him, rolling a ball out to Janik Haberer in the base of midfield, his shoulders back, head up. Also typical was the way that Oliver Burke showed his blistering pace as he darted up the middle with just a couple of minutes played. He almost got onto the end of a Haberer long ball soon afterwards, but the Regionalliga side would be careful not to let him get the jump on them too often again.

But Luckenwalde weren’t here just for the giggles. The former Unioner, Tim Maciejewski nipped onto a loose pass ahead of Haberer, and sent Will away with a lovely diagonal, out right. Now watchful, Nsoki swept up the danger quickly.

Union took the lead after 13 minutes, when Derrick Köhn advanced on the left, before bending an inch-perfect, left-footed cross towards the back post where Tim Skarke met it with a firm header.

The guests came close to doubling it within four minutes as Luckenwalde keeper, Kevin Tittel, saved from David Preu before Ljubicic put wide from the follow up. Tittel then stopped Burke’s drive, diving to his right, palming the ball awaywith two hands.

For all Union’s dominance, there were a few drawn faces as Robert Skov trudged off after only 20 minutes. The Dane’s misfortune, however, was tempered – if not for him - by the fact that his 17-year-old replacement, Sadou Barry, was making his own first-team debut, slotting in on the right without fuss.

Maciejewski was performing well against his former club. He attacked down the right, cutting inside, and flashed a shot that went into the side netting; one failed attempt drew the thud of his coach’s fist on the plexiglass roof of the dugout, before his stinging shot drew the best save of the half from Tittel.