Blue Square bet Premier Opening day round-up

The opening weekend of the new Blue Square bet Premier campaign certainly whets the appetite for the remainder of the season.

No fewer than 42 goals were scored with a few surprises along the way, especially at Field Mill where promotion hopefuls Mansfield Town succumbed a Newport County side threatened by relegation last season.

The Exiles raced into a 2-0 lead with barely 10 minutes gone, the hosts battled back to equalise early into the second half, but goals from Aaron O’Connor and Jefferson Louis restored the visitors’ advantage.

Danny Crow struck two minutes from time, but Mansfield were left to rue defensive vulnerabilities as Newport claimed an impressive 4-3 victory.

Fellow promotion contenders Luton Town had to battle back from being 2-0 down at the break at home to Gateshead.

New signing and former Gateshead striker, John Shaw gave the Hatters some hope just after the hour mark and Stuart Fleetwood completed the comeback with 20 minutes remaining, firing in from close range.

Wrexham put behind them the disappointment of missing out on promotion last season with a comfortable victory against newly promoted Woking.

Robert Ogleby and Dean Keates gave the Dragons the advantage going into half time, Bradley Budd pulled one back for the visitors on the hour mark, but Mark Creighton’s late header ensured that the Cards were dealt an opening day defeat at the Racecourse Ground.

Friday night’s clash between both relegated clubs Hereford United and Macclesfield Town was a tight affair, but Marlon Jackson’s second half strike gave the Bulls a valuable opening day victory against their promotion rivals.

The first Blue Square bet Premier match to be staged at Princes Park ended rather disappointingly for the hosts as Dartford slipped to a 3-2 defeat to Tamworth.

Adam Cunnington’s brace sealed a vital victory on the road for the Lambs leaving Dartford to contemplate an opening day defeat against their fellow relegation candidates.

Blue Square bet Premier results:

Hereford United 2-1 Macclesfield Town

Barrow 0-0 AFC Telford

Braintree Town 2-2 Hyde

Dartford 2-3 Tamworth

Forest Green Rovers 1-1 Cambridge United

Lincoln City 1-0 Kidderminster Harriers

Luton Town 2-2 Gateshead FC

Mansfield Town 3-4 Newport

Nuneaton Town 4-5 Ebbsfleet United

Southport 1-1 Grimsby Town

Stockport County 1-0 Alfreton Town

Wrexham 3-1 Woking