Sunday 6th September 2015

The 2015/16 season got underway on Sunday and last season's runners up Hasland Devonshire made the perfect start with a 5-1 away win at Tibshelf Town. Lee Clay has been Devonshire's talisman in recent seasons and his hat-trick plus a goal each from Jason Foster and substitute Will Eaton were crucial to his side's opening day victory. New side Doe Lea and promoted AFC Bolsover's clash saw both defenses on top as they played out a goal-less draw. Hopflower Utd narrowly avoided relegation last season and another newly promoted side Clowne Wanderers were their first opponents of the 2015/16 and goals from Ryan Wain and Ryan Whittaker were equalled by Sam Richardson and Ryan Edridge goals for Wanderers as it finished 2-2.

In TWO FC Utd of Bolsover made a statement of intent as Josh Parfitt hit three, Jordan Jones, Sam Ward, Ashley Grayson and Nick Grayson scoring one each as visitors Dronfield Victoria were humbled 7-2. A revamped New Whitt side started well with a 3-1 win at Matlock Town Wanderers, Dan Locke, Reece Shaw and Jack Yeomans scoring the winning goals. A seven goal thriller played out between Dronfield Woodhouse and Creswell Black Diamond Reserves was settled in favor of the former who won 4-3. Likewise there was very little to choose between Crispin Casuals and opponents Westend Killamarsh but Westend just shaded it 2-1.

In THREE last season’s NAPIT FIVE champions Brimington Utd travelled to Holmebrook Valley Park to take on 14/15 Chatsworth Cup Winners Oaks FC. Utd started brightly and Chris Marshall scored what was probably the quickest goal of the day and the first goal of the new season, heading in after 50 seconds. Matt Carnell then scored to make the game 2-0 at half time. In the second half Carl Newell scored a brace and Matt Carnell scored again with an absolute screamer. Oaks did get a consolation goal late on but Brimington proved to be too good for them on the day. Newbold also got off to a flyer as they also scored five times, Dan Keenan twice, Callum Doveson, Lewis Hayward and Luke Whitbread once as Ark Tavern went down 5-1. Renishaw MW and Hollingwood Athletic both won 3-1, Renishaw beating AFC North Wingfield, Athletic Hady Villa. The division's other game between Red Lion Whit Moor and New Inn Tupton ended in a 2-2 drawn game.

Jack Tromans will be pleased with his opening day's work in FOUR as his well taken treble steered Spartans to an excellent 4-0 victory over last season's SEVEN champions Brimington Utd Shoes, Shaun Byrne adding goal number four. Mark Woods scored twice Callum Virgillio and Ashley Crowther once for Butchers Arms in their 4-1 win at Old Whittington MW whilst Ben Hackford blasted a hat-trick past Duckmanton Community as Crown Killamarsh romped to a 7-2 victory. Club FC just edged past Brampton Rovers as Stephen Adams, Scott Hegarty and Gary Brooks scored in an odd goal in five win whilst a goal from Luke Carline was all AFC Castle needed to beat New All Inn.

At half time in Renishaw Rangers game with Barlow Kingston Rovers in FIVE there was little evidence of what was about to come in the second period as Rangers led by a goal to nil. However an early Rangers second quickly followed by a third and Rovers crumbled, conceding six more to lose 9-0, Liam Edge and Paul Langstaff both scoring two each. In stark contrast the game between Harley's Scarlets and Gate Inn North Wingfield was crying out for a goal but, alas, none was forthcoming as a bore draw was the outcome. Kyle Perrins and Scott Patterson's efforts made sure the game between Bolsover Town and Glapwell Gladiators was much more entertaining as the former scored twice, the latter once in Town's 3-1 success. Grassmoor Sports Reserves beat Royal Oak Rangers 2-1 and Britannia Rose won 4-1 at Dronfield Wanderers to complete the division's results.

In SIX a hurricane certainly blew in the faces of the AFC Steelmelters side as Furnace Hill Hurricanes put nine goals past them, Simon Hartshorn scoring three of them, Neil Hollingworth and Richard Start two apiece, Adam Fareham and Tommy Early one each, Steelmelters did manage to score three themselves. Whitecotes Wanderers made a great to start to their campaign easing past Lokoford Inn 7-0. Jason Wilbraham and Daniel Brown both scored twice in the victory. Evolution's first win last time around was a long time coming but not so this time as they won their first game of the season, Ryan Britland, Harry Oakley and Josh Cartledge, who later saw red, scoring in a 3-1 success over Astwith All Stars. Hasland Community Eagles and Woodthorpe Wanderers were both in top goal scoring form as they scored four times each to share the points.

Anchor Clowne and Ye Olde Nags Head opened their seasons campaign on the Oxcroft MW ground in an ill-tempered affair in SEVEN that saw six goals scored and three red cards issued. The goals for Anchor were scored by Dale Gosney, Troy Greaveson and Tom Rose whilst Tony Pearson, Aston Stanley and Jack Smith were on target for Nags. The men taking the dreaded early bath were Anchor's Jordan Doughty and Pete Lavill and Nags Jason Stevenson. A goal each from Ant Redman and Shane Pollard ensured Britannia Tupton made a winning start against New Bolsover Social Club whilst Brimington a Club beat Markham Arms 3-1. Darley Dale Red Star were also opening day winners, beating Renishaw Rangers TFC by three goals to nil.