After a superb promotion-winning campaign last season, Crawley Green began life in Division One of the Molten Spartan SML on Saturday with a narrow 3-2 defeat at Amersham Town.

The visitors missed a glorious chance to take the lead after just seven minutes, when James Potter's spot kick was saved.

The home side then took the lead on 25 minutes from the penalty spot, before new signing Rob O'Dell levelled matters seven minutes later, following good work by Potter.

Crawley went on to spurn a host of second half chances, before Amersham grabbed a second with 15 minutes remaining. But O'Dell had looked to have earned a point for the visitors, after scoring from the spot on 87 minutes, before Amersham snatched all three points when they scored following a mix up in the Crawley defence.

Brache Sparta, meanwhile, now under the stewardship of Chris Juraszek, went down 4-1 at home to Tokyngton Manor.

Brache found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening quarter of an hour, before a goal direct from a Carl Drew corner on 26 minutes, gave Brache something to build on.

An improved second half performance saw Jim Benton miss a good chance, while Glenn Marshall also hit the woodwork as they pushed on in search of an equaliser. They were undone by two late goals on the counter attack to give the scoreline an unrealistic look.

In Division Two, there was a good start for new manager Ken Dumigan, as his Kent Athletic side were 2-0 home winners over MK Wanderers.

The home side dominated the majority of the game, with first half goals from Angus Stewart and Akeem Ogenremni enough to secure a well deserved win.

Elsewhere, despite a disappointing performance, a late equaliser from Ryan Smith still earned The 61FC a point at home to Old Bradwell United.
The home side couldn't quite reproduce their pre-season form and it was the visitors who led at half time. An improved second half show, capped by Smith's late leveller saved the day and it can only get better.

Markyate showed vast improvements on last season with an encouraging showing in their narrow 1-0 defeat at Risborough Rangers.

They had most of the early possession and created a number of chances with Brett Scott and Damen Pickering both unlucky not to score when clean through on goal, while Adam Mead felt hard done by after looked to have given Markyate the lead with a 20-yard screamer right on half time, but was denied as the referee had already blown for the interval.

Poor marking handed Rangers their goal in the second half, but despite coming away with nothing to show for their efforts, the visitors shoed they should at least enjoy a better season this time around.

In other action, a youthful-looking AFC Dunstable hit the ground running as they cruised to 5-2 win at Bletchley Town.

The visitors fielded five debutants, including 16-year-old goalkeeper Sam Leggett, while the average age of the team was just 21.

Star-man yet again was Felix Kyeremeh, who hit a hat-trick, Jon Cooper and Jack Downes also grabbed goals either side of half-time.

Totternhoe, meanwhile, slipped to a 2-0 opening day defeat at Bucks Student Union. The game appeared to be heading for a stalemate, with very few scoring chances being created. Both teams played good football in midfield but lacked real penetration.

The deadlock was broken 20 minutes from the end when the home team scored a scrappy opener. The Totts had two good chances to equalize but these were squandered and they paid the penalty when a Bucks forward headed home in injury time.

Elsehwere, goals from Adrian Fontenelle and Daniel Edwards couldn't save Caddington from a 3-2 defeat at Tring Corinthians.