Worksop Town’s big return to the National League North, following a eighteen-year absence, came up short when away to fellow promoted side, Macclesfield, on Saturday afternoon.

The Silkmen won the Northern Premier League Premier Division at a canter last season, with Craig Parry’s Tigers, having finished as runners-up, being promoted via the play-offs’ this time around, and following numerous changes over the summer, it would be the visitors who’d draw first blood, before falling to a pair of second half goals in a 3-1 loss.

Having enjoyed a few early chances, Deegan Atherton’s header being cleared off the line, and Jordan Burrow’s header tipped over by Max Dearnley, in the home goal, before Aleksandrs Starcenko opened the scoring.

Mason O’Malley saw his cross headed into the path of Burrow, his shot was saved again by Dearnley but the rebound fell for Starcenko to prod home the Tigers’ first of the season, on twenty-one minutes.

Just seven minutes later and the contest was level again, home captain, Paul Dawson, heading home; shortly after the hosts had equalised, the visitors then saw a goal-line clearance, Joe Leesley clearing Danny Whitehead’s effort, the two sides going in level at the break.

The Silkmen had the first big chance of the second period when Tommy Taylor saved Duffy’s goal-bound effort and, just before the hour mark, the hosts led when Danny Elliott netted.

The closing stages would see the hosts add a third goal, with eight minutes left on the clock captain Dawson grabbed his second, and the Silken’s third of the afternoon as Parry’s side suffered an opening day defeat; next up, it’s back to the Windsor Foodservice Stadium, with the visit of Kidderminster Harriers, on Saturday 16 August.

WORKSOP TOWN – Tommy Taylor, Regan Hutchinson, Joe Leesley, Vaughan Redford, Aleksandrs Starcenko, Liam Hughes, Mason O’Malley, Deegan Atherton, Jordan Burrow, Dylan Cogill, Luke Waterfall (capt) (Hamza Bencherif, Bailey Gooda, Aaron Martin, Chae Whitman-Brown, Lewis Whitman, Ben Tomlinson, Martin Woods)

Meanwhile, in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division, the season kicked off for both Basford United and Carlton Town, the former involved in an eight-goal thriller at home, the latter winning 2-1 on the road.

Basford were, somehow, held to a 4-4 draw with visiting Sutton Coldfield Town in a game which not only saw eight different scorers, but the visitors overturn a two-goal, interval deficit, to lead with twelve minutes remaining.

Tyler Dacres and Lynden Joyce both scored for the Ambers within the space of a couple of minutes late in the first half, the former volleying home a perfect cross from Kieran Cummings, and the latter with a first-time finish as Dacres turned provider.

Fraser Doyle and Reece Gibson levelled proceedings with two, quick-fire goals, just before the hour mark, the Ambers captain Callum Cocks restoring the lead five minutes later when smashing the ball in off the crossbar.

The visitors still had plenty left themselves, and overturned the deficit as the second half ticked on, Jayden Campbell and Luca Taylor both netting as the game headed towards the final ten, their fourth arriving in the seventy-eighth minute.

Having made a number of changes around the two visiting goals being scored, the hosts earned themselves a share of the spoils with eight remaining when Jake Goodman equalised, capping an incredible, opening day outing for both sides.

Meanwhile Carlton picked up all three points when on the road at Rugby Town, all three goals arriving in the second half, the visitors having taken a two-goal lead.

Lewis Durow was on-hand to open the scoring before Ashley Chambers doubled the lead minutes later, the Millers 2-0 up on the hour; Rivel Mardenborough gave the hosts hope with seven minutes remaining, but they couldn’t muster an equaliser, Carlton claiming a 2-1, opening day victory.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @LewisPickersgi1 opening day action from Worksop Town at Macclesfield.