STEP 5 ROUND-UPS
NORTHERN LEAGUE
TWO of the three promoted clubs enjoyed opening day wins, with Blyth AFC marking their first top flight game with a 4-3 victory at Ashington.
The Braves were four up by the half hour, Bobby Taylor scoring an early goal followed by Dan Wilson’s eightminute hat-trick.
Ashington hit back after the break through Gerard Richardson’s brace and a penalty from Damien Stevens.
Hebburn Town’s return to the top tier brought a 2-1 home win over Penrith.
Summer signings Luke Sullivan and Graeme Armstrong were on target for the Hornets, with Connor Shields replying from the spot.
Whickham, the third newcomer, were soundly beaten by Bishop Auckland 5-0, with Darren Richardson scoring twice.
Shildon were held to a 1-1 draw at home to last season’s FA Vase finalists Stockton Town. Mikey Roberts hit the Anchors’ late equaliser.
A Mark Fitzpatrick penalty ten minutes from the end gave Dunston UTS a 1-0 win at West Auckland Town.
Veteran striker Paul Brayson scored Newcastle Benfield’s goal in a 1-0 win at Sunderland RCA.
A dramatic injury time goal saw Consett come from behind to beat Guisborough Town 3-2 at Belle View.
Whitley Bay scored twice in each half to beat Seaham Red Star 4-2 at Hillheads, Dan Taggart scoring twice.
Robbie Bird’s 71st minute goal clinched a 2-0 win for Ryhope CW over Newton Aycliffe. JEFF BOWRON
NORTH WEST COUNTIES
PRE-SEASON favourites Northwich Victoria ran out 5-3 winners at West Didsbury.
1874 Northwich were comprehensively beaten 6-3 at home by City of Liverpool, for whom Craig Cairns bagged a hat-trick.
Padiham also suffered a heavy home defeat as Runcorn Town beat them 5-2 to stake their early claim for top spot.
Congleton Town defeated newlypromoted Litherland Remyca 1-0 despite having a player sent off at the start of the second half.
Silsden, another of the promoted sides, needed a late equaliser from Danny Forest after Ric Seers had put Squires Gate ahead.
It was also a 1-1 draw for the other promoted club, Whitchurch Alport, who were held by visitors Ashton Athletic at Yockings Park.
Bootle and Irlam finished goalless, while along the A59 at Burscough, Hanley Town won a close encounter 2-1 as a Josh Thorpe brace either side of Chad Whyte’s leveller secured the points for the Potteries side.
Abbey Hey and Winsford United fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw, Hey battling back from being 2-0 down at the break.
The day’s other game saw Charnock Richard get off to an impressive start with a 2-0 home win over Barnoldswick. GARY LANGLEY
NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST
BOTTESFORD TOWN and Hemsworth MW share top spot after the opening games in the Premier Division – but both sides had to come from behind before securing 5-2 victories.
Hosts Bottesford trailed league newcomers Yorkshire Amateur before romping to victory and it was the same story at Hall Road Rangers, who led the way before Bradley Dockerty and Seon Ripley bagged two goals apiece to hand Hemsworth the points.
Bradley Walker scored both goals for Knaresborough Town in their 2-1 win at Albion Sports, but there was disappointment for the third of the promoted sides as Goole AFC lost 2-1 at home to Worksop Town.
Joe McFadyen netted a late brace as Bridlington Town edged out Garforth Town 2-1, while Joe Walton’s double helped Liversedge beat Athersley Rec 3-1.
Maltby Main made a decent start to the season with a 2-0 win at home to Harrogate Railway Athletic with both goals coming from Danny Frost.
Handsworth Parramore took an hour to break through a solid Penistone Church before finally running out 3-1 winners, with Jed Phillips helping himself to a brace.
An early Jordan Hines goal wasn’t enough for Thackley as hosts Eccleshill United hit back to draw 1-1.
It was the same scoreline at Staveley MW, where Jamie Goddard hit a late equaliser for Barton Town.
DAVID LAWRENCE
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE
DANICO JOHNSON helped himself to a hat-trick on his debut as Rugby Town showed why they are early season title favourites.
Loyiso Recci also scored in a 4-0 win at Peterborough Northern Star.
Newly-promoted Pinchbeck United recorded their first ever win at Step 5 with a 2-1 home victory over Rothwell Corinthians courtesy of goals from Fraser Bayliss and Ollie Maltby.
Visitors Sleaford Town registered a shock win over another side tipped for the title when they beat Newport Pagnell Town 3-1, with George Couzens, Simon Bollard and Liam Harris all on target.
Daventry Town saw off another of the would-be front runners when two goals from Luke Emery and one from Kieran Fitzgerald saw them beat visitors Holbeach United 3-1.
A Ryan Dove double saw Cogenhoe United record their second victory of the season with a 2-1 home triumph over Harborough Town.
Charlie Coulson’s injury time goal gave hosts Deeping Rangers a 2-1 win over visitors Wellingborough Town.
Oadby Town had Tom Mangan to thank for two goals including the equaliser in their 3-1 win at Boston Town. Sam Hollis grabbed their third goal.
Eynesbury Rovers were held to a 11 draw at home to Desborough Town, while Leicester Nirvana drew 2-2 at home to Northampton ON Chenecks.
ROBIN JONES
MIDLAND LEAGUE
PREMIER DIVISION new boys Ilkeston Town made a winning start to the season with a thrilling 3-2 win at home to Stourport Swifts.
More than 600 fans saw the home side come from behind to take the points, Malachi Lavelle-Moore netting the winner three minutes from time.
Things were just as tense at Boldmere St Michaels, where the hosts left it even later before edging out Worcester City 3-2, Ryan Shaw firing the injury time winner past debutant former Walsall keeper Dan Jezeph.
Two goals from Paul Sullivan helped last year’s Division One champions Walsall Wood beat Romulus 3-2, while a debut goal from Kieron Northwood was enough to hand AFC Wulfrunians the spoils at home to Loughborough University.
Lye Town head the table at the end of the opening day’s fixtures thanks to their 3-1 victory at Quorn.
Westfields also enjoyed a win as they beat South Normanton Athletic 1-0.
A Curvin Ellis strike at the start of the second half gave Coventry United a 1-0 win over Shepshed Dynamo, while city neighbours Coventry Sphinx drew 0-0 at Highgate United.
The other games also finished all square. Wolves Sporting Community let a two-goal lead slip as Dunkirk forced a 2-2 draw, while Sporting Khalsa came from behind to draw 1-1 at Long Eaton United.
DAVID LAWRENCE
EASTERN COUNTIES
GODMANCHESTER ROVERS got off to a fine start with a thumping 5-0 home win against Wroxham.
Michael Hyem netted twice with Simon Unwin, Buster Harradine and Matt Allan also on target.
Robbie Sweeney and Scott Chaplin were Stowmarket Town’s scorers in a 2-1 home victory over Thetford Town.
Danny Crow’s 93rd minute winner handed Norwich United a dramatic 10 home success against newly promoted Whitton United.
Elsewhere, Kirkley & Pakefield suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Brantham Athletic and Lee Reed struck twice for Ely City as they recorded a comfortable 3-1 home win against new boys Framlingham Town.
Shaun Avis grabbed a brace for Newmarket Town as they ran out 4-2 winners at home to Great Yarmouth Town, while the match between Long Melford and Gorleston finished 2-2.
On Friday night, FC Clacton began the new campaign in miserable fashion as they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at Hadleigh United.
Kyle Cassell netted twice for the home side with Danny Thrower, Marco Makris and Jack Severy also on the scoresheet.
In the other game played on Friday, Histon secured an impressive 4-0 home win against Haverhill Rovers.
Danny Gould scored two of his side’s goals with Ed Rolph and Lewis McDonald adding the others.
RORY HAYWARD
SPARTAN SOUTH MIDLANDS
THE 2018/19 CAMPAIGN exploded into life with 28 goals in the nine Premier Division games.
Two of last season’s top four met in the game of the day as hosts Harpenden Town beat Leighton Town 2-1 thanks to goals from Harry Hunt and debutant Archie McCelland.
Arlesey Town won their first Spartan South Midlands League game after 18 seasons away from it as they beat London Tigers 2-0.
Lorell Smith opened the scoring for the hosts before Ash Fuller sealed the win late on.
Two newcomers to the league met at Berkeley Fields as Potton United won 3-1 at North Greenford United.
Gary Ansell-Clarke, Jonathan Hall and Christian Smail were all on target for Potton.
Baldock Town make up the quartet of newcomers after promotion last season, but they suffered an opening day defeat as they lost 2-0 at Tring Athletic.
Crawley Green recruited well over the summer and were rewarded with an excellent 3-2 win at Oxhey Jets.
Danny Watson scored the first of their three goals with a first half penalty.
Elsewhere in the Premier Division, London Colney beat Leverstock Green 2-0, Biggleswade FC won 2-1 at Wembley and Jeff Idemudia scores deep into injury time to give Hadley a 1-0 win at Stotfold. CHRIS MITCHELL
COMBINED COUNTIES
TEN-MAN Raynes Park Vale staged a late recovery to snatch a 3-2 victory over visitors Guildford City.
Nathan Lewis snatched an 88th minute winner after Eoin Fraser has been sent off in the 67th minute.
Conor Turner netted Vale’s first goal of the season before Bryan Douglas Letts found the back of the net.
Walton & Hersham’s all-new side
made easy work of beating visitors Badshot Lea 4-0 thanks to Ross Chalke’s double and one each from Charlie Hester-Cook and Marlon Pinder.
Joe Cheeseman, Ben Geraghty and Matt Robinson scored for Banstead Athletic in their 3-1 victory over visitors AFC Hayes.
Ayden Richards helped himself to a double with Ben King and Karl Parker hitting one each for Horley Town in their 4-0 win over visitors Cobham.
Sean Bradley’s brace and an own goal ensured hosts Abbey Rangers picked up a 3-0 win over Redhill.
Billy Frost, Ryan Espirit and Jordan Espirit all scored for Spelthorne Sports in their 4-0 home win over Colliers Wood United. Jake Flatman added the other from the penalty spot.
Auletta Matt scored the only goal of the game as Sutton Common Rovers took three points from Knaphill.
Dale Binns and Sam Murphy found the back of the net for Chertsey Town in their 2-1 win at Camberley Town.
Balham beat Southall 2-0 and Hanworth Villa saw off CB Hounslow United 1-0. ROBIN JONES
SOUTHERN COMBINATION
NEWLY-PROMOTED Little Common started life in the Premier Division in perfect fashion as they secured a 2-0 win at Shoreham. Lewis Hole netted both goals. George Gaskin, Ryan Davidson and Dan Simmonds were all on target for Pagham as they secured a 3-2 victory at Peacehaven & Telscombe.
Alex Barbary struck a dramatic late winner for Horsham YMCA as they recorded a thrilling 4-3 win at AFC Uckfield Town.
Matt Daniel struck just after the half hour mark to hand Lancing a 1-0 home success over Loxwood.
New boys Langney Wanderers were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Saltdean United.
East Preston drew 1-1 at home to Eastbourne Town after Scott Rafferty’s opener for the home side was cancelled out by Ethan Strevett’s 66th minute equaliser for Eastbourne.
Chichester City ran out 2-0 winners at home to Newhaven, while Ollie Black’s 84th minute strike rescued a point for Eastbourne United AFC as they drew 1-1 at home to Arundel.
Devon Fender’s 78th minute equaliser meant that Hassocks were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Broadbridge Heath, while Crawley Down Gatwick and newly-promoted Lingfield fought out a goalless draw. RORY HAYWARD
HELLENIC LEAGUE
NEW SIGNING TJ Bohane started just as he means to go on for Royal Wootton Bassett, as he grabbed a hat-trick in their 6-1 mauling of Tuffley Rovers.
Brad Paglearoci chipped in with two while Steve Yardley hit the opener.
The team formerly known as Highmoor Ibis, now re-styled as Reading City, returned from Shrivenham with a 5-1 victory.
Mitch Parker hit three goals, Matt Hancock and Jack Powell the others.
Two early goals from Ian Davies set visitors Binfield on course for a 4-1 win at Ardley United. Jeff Brown and Carlo Santoro added the others.
Curtis Stone and Jamie West, who was making his debut, found the back of the net for Holmers Green in their 2-1 home win over Abingdon United.
Sam Blackie scored twice and Ash Caldwell added a penalty as hosts Brimscombe & Thrupp beat Windsor 3-1.
Fairford Town got off to a cracking start against visitors Wantage Town when they stormed into a two-goal lead, John Thomas bagging a double.
But a late rally by the away side saw Chris Jackson reduce the arrears from the penalty spot, Steve Robertson equalise and then he grabbed a shock 91st minute winner.
Bishops Cleeve drew 3-3 at home to Ascot United and Flackwell Heath held hosts Longlevens to a 2-2 draw.
ROBIN JONES
SOUTHERN COUNTIES EAST
SHEPPEY UNITED made a flying start as they thrashed Crowborough Athletic 5-0 at the Hamill Stadium.
Dan Bradshaw bagged a hat-trick and Remell Davies scored twice as the Ites wrapped things up inside an hour.
Canterbury City also struck five as they beat Rusthall 5-2 in their first game at Faversham Town.
Rob Lawrence, Liam Quinn, Dave Pilcher and Jordan Casey all scored for City before a last-minute own goal.
K Sports made a dream start to life in the Premier Division as they beat Erith Town 4-2.
Matt Gething opened and completed the scoring for Sports, with James Alderman scoring twice in between.
The Dockers replied through Ralique Lawrence and Aaron Jeffrey.
Paul Vines scored two for Chatham Town as they opened the season with a 4-1 win at Corinthian, Tom Fitzgerald and Jason Thompson also found the target with Stephen Ita scoring the hosts’ consolation goal.
Jamie Humphries grabbed a last minute for winner for Beckenham Town as they won 3-2 at Bearsted.
Fisher’s return to the Premier Division ended in a 1-0 defeat at Hollands & Blair, while Glebe were 31 winners at home to Tunbridge Wells.
Lordswood won 2-1 at Croydon, whose neighbours AFC Croydon Athletic drew 2-2 with Deal Town.
In Division One, new boys Welling Town won 6-3 at Rochester United.
PAUL CARTER
WESTERN LEAGUE
SHEPTON MALLET sit atop the Premier Division after a 5-0 opening day rout of Shortwood United.
The home side flew out of the blocks and found themselves three goals to the good after just 12 minutes, with Joe Morgan adding to Tyson Pollard’s quickfire double.
Morgan was then felled in the box which allowed Pollard to complete his hat-trick, with the Shepton frontman adding his fourth of the afternoon less than 30 minutes into the new season.
There was success for both sides promoted from the First Division, with goals from Ken Oni and Joe Swift handing Roman Glass St George a 20 win at Hallen, while Westbury United defeated Wellington 3-1.
Plymouth Parkway enjoyed a dramatic victory in their first Western League fixture, with second half goals from Adam Carter and Ben Joyce helping them come from behind to defeat Odd Down 2-1 at Bolitho Park.
In the clash involving the other two Devon sides, Brad Ausden’s 55th minute goal was enough to hand Willand Rovers a 1-0 win at Buckland Athletic.
New signing Ben Bament made an instant impact at Bitton, scoring both of their goals in a 2-0 win at home to Clevedon, with Bradford Town beating Cribbs and Bridport winning at Chipping Sodbury Town by the same scoreline.
The only draw of the day came at Springfield where Cadbury Heath and Brislington tied 1-1. TOM HISCOTT
WESSEX LEAGUE
BASHLEY welcomed newly-promoted Andover New Street to the New Forest, with Harry McGrath netting a brace as the Bash ran out worthy 2-0 winners.
Christchurch, another newly-promoted side to the Premier Division, marked their return to the top flight with a 2-0 victory at Horndean.
Scott Joyce scored twice for the Church at Fiveheads Park before being sent off, but Ollie Cherrett’s side held on for an opening day triumph.
A solitary Lewis Whyton goal was enough for Portland United as they overcame a new-look Alresford Town side 1-0 at The Grove in Dorset.
A crowd of 130 watched on as Cowes Sports beat Hamworthy United 3-0 at Westwood Park.
John McKie put the home side ahead early on and the lead was doubled later in the first half through Ji Nash.
Nash added his second and the Islanders’ third in the second half to seal a comfortable win.
Sholing also recorded a solid win on the opening day, coming away with a 4-0 victory at Bemerton Heath Harlequins, while Tadley Calleva were 3-1 winners at home to Fareham Town.
Friday night football kickstarted the new Sydenhams Football League season, as Hamble Club and Lymington Town played out a 0-0 draw.
MATT RICHBELL
STEP 6 ROUND-UPS EAST MIDLANDS
NEWARK FLOWSERVE made the perfect start to life in the East Midlands Counties League, romping to an 8-0 win at home to Arnold Town with Dan Meadows helping himself to a hat-trick.
There was no shortage of goals elsewhere with Teversal thumping West Bridgford 6-1 thanks to hat-tricks from Matt Wilkinson and Dan Fletcher.
Shaun Smith struck twice as Sherwood Colliery won 3-0 at Borrowash Victoria, while Clifton All Whites beat Gedling MW 4-2.
Ben Moore bagged a first half double to help Selston to a slender 3-2 win at Radford, while Dan Chatfield was on target for Heanor Town in their 2-0 win at Rainworth MW.
Barrow Town beat Ashby Ivanhoe 2-1, Graham St Prims saw off Belper United by the same margin and Ingles scraped a 1-0 win at home to Eastwood where Adam Smith netted the only goal 12 minutes from time.
WILF ALEXANDER
WEST MIDLANDS REGIONAL
WOLVES CASUALS made a cracking start to the campaign when they overwhelmed Herefordshire side Wellington 9-0.
Two goals from Scott Sandland plus further strikes through Ashley Evans, Kieran Miller and Kieran Whittaker put Casuals into a 5-0 lead by half-time.
Wellington wilted in the second half as Miller completed his hat-trick, Evans and Josh Jones completing the rout.
Title favourites Tividale also made an immediate impact with a 5-0 success at Smethwick Rangers.
Bradley Welding put the Packwood Road side in front and further goals soon followed from Dan Smith, Tyree Clarke and a Demetri Brown double.
Much-fancied Malvern Town attempt to improve on last season’s third place and duly made a promising start when pulling off 3-0 win over local rivals Pershore Town.
Matt Pinder plundered a couple of goals before Matt Fusco fired in a third.
Kieran Clarke converted a couple of penalties as Black Country Rangers reeled off a 4-0 win at Bilston Town Community, where Umar Zaman and Aaron Weston were also on target.
Cradley Town chalked up a convincing 4-1 win over AFC Bridgnorth.
Ryan Guryn headed into his own net early on before Ryan Piggott rifled home two goals.
Karl Griffith grabbed a goal back, but Aaron Hickman wrapped up the points by scoring a fourth Cradley goal.