Basford United began the new campaign with a point, whilst Worksop Town’s recording breaking, unbeaten Northern Premier League run, came to a crashing halt on Saturday afternoon as the rest of the non-league scene kicked off with a bang.

Alongside the two, Notts NPL Premier sides, Carlton began their campaign in the NPL East division with a last minute win on the road, and Retford United continued their unbeaten start to life in the Northern Counties East Division One.

At Basford, all four goals were netted in the first half as the hosts were held to a 2-2 draw with north-east outfit, Morpeth Town, Jake Thomas and Jonathan Wafula scoring for the Notts-based club, meanwhile, Worksop came undone in the north-west when falling to a 3-0 defeat against hosts, FC United of Manchester, ending their 37-game unbeaten record.

Carlton were also on the road, they making the trip to West Yorkshire, returning with all three points in their 2-1 win over hosts, Pontefract Collieries, goals coming from Lamin Manneh, and a last-minute winner via Niall Davie.

In the Northern Counties East Division One there was victories for both Retford clubs, whilst Ollerton lost 2-0 away to Brigg Town; Retford edged visiting Shirebrook Town 1-0 thanks to Liam Frost’s penalty just before the half-hour mark, and Retford United maintained top spot after they eased to a 4-0 win away to Yorkshire Amateurs, three goals coming in a dominant first half via Nick Guest (2), and a Mark West penalty, Tom Roebuck adding the fourth in the closing stages.

Notts clubs top the tables in the United Counties League following the opening rounds of matches, Sherwood Colliery topping the Premier North, and Clipstone heading up Division One, both collecting good wins on Saturday.

Sherwood cruised to a comfortable, 4-0 win, against visiting Deeping Rangers as Ethan Wiesztort gave the Notts club an interval lead, notching on the half hour; Craig Westcarr doubled the hosts’ lead before the hour mark, before Wiesztort added two more, and completing his hat-trick, in the closing stages.

Clipstone meanwhile welcomed Saffron Dynamo, the hosts taking the lead via Ryan Ingram, the visitors however levelling up just minutes later; Lewis Bingham ensured the hosts went into the break with the lead when he added their second ten minutes before half-time, Ingram doubling up with the decisive third goal on the hour.

Elsewhere in the UCL, Eastwood romped to a six-goal win on the road at Pinchbeck United in the Premier North, Derek O’Connor with a double as three goals were bagged in each half; Newark & Sherwood United edged a five-goal game away to local rivals Kimberley Miners Welfare, the visitors holding a two-goal cushion at the break, and AFC Mansfield lost a nine-goal thriller when away to Belper United, who sit joint-top.

Hucknall Town also suffered defeat in the Premier, going down 3-1 away to Boston Town, whilst in Division One, Scott Hendrie scored twice as Gedling Miners Welfare hot four without reply away to Southwell City, and Newark Town won 3-1 at Birstall United, George Asplin with a brace.

Callum Wolloch notched the only goal of the game as West Bridgford were held to a 1-1 draw at Bourne Town, and Clifton All Whites defeated visiting Holwell Sports 2-1; defeats meanwhile came the way of Sandiacre Town (3-1 at home to Lutterworth), Radford and Rainworth Miners Welfare both lost 2-0, against Kirby Muxloe and Leicester St, Andrews respectively, and Dunkirk were edged 1-0 away to Harrowby.

Four games were played across the Central Midlands Alliance involving Notts clubs with Retford Reserves winning 4-2 away to Harworth Colliery as Liam Cross bagged two, whilst SJR Worksop were beaten 2-0 at home to Doncaster City, in the North; the South meanwhile saw Teversal defeat another local rival, this time Nottingham, 4-1 at home, thanks to goals from Jake Allen, Edward Morgan, Kurtis Bamford, and Liam Carver, and Linby CW picked up their first win of the campaign, 2-1 at home to Mansfield Hosiery Mills, Sanousi Ibrahim (penalty) and Sean Craven netting for the victors.

As for the Nottinghamshire Senior League, just one point separates the top six sides at this early stage with Southwell City Reserves, FC Sez, and Dunkirk, sitting on seven points apiece, along with Stapleford Town, Collingham, and Cotgrave, on six; Stapleford have played just twice whilst the rest have notched up three games.

Of those, Southwell were held 2-2 away to FC Sez in the early, top-of-the-table battle, Dunkirk also drew 2-2 as they were held by visiting Awsworth Villa; Tommy Dunderdale bagged a brace as Collingham beat visiting Wollaton 3-1, and Cotgrave edged Woodthorpe.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Basfordutdfc opening day draw for Basford United against Morpeth.