Netherton United win historic match, but FC Peterborough beaten in theirs, success for Holbeach United, March Town and Whittlesey Athletics
Netherton United are up and running in their first season as a step 6 club.
The city side christened their new Thurlow Nunn Division One North status with a 2-0 debut match win over Halesworth Town at the Grange.
Adulai Balde fired Netherton into a first-half lead and, after the visitors had missed a penalty, young Freddie Hooke wrapped the points up with a second-half strike.
Netherton host FC Parson Drove in a Thurlow Nunn derby on Wednesday (July 29, 7.45pm kick off).
Parson Drove lost their opening day game at this level 3-2 at home to Holland, but Whittlesey Athletic and Holbeach United both started with wins. Rabab Ali, Alpha Wurie and Denis Coelho scored as Holbeach beat Long Melford 3-2 at Carter’s Park while Michael Nkwueke struck twice and new signing Toms Barkans also scored in Whittlesey’s 3-1 win at Needham Market Reserves.
March Town opened their Premier Division campaign with a 2-0 home win over Harleston Town. Rio Henson and Stefano Cavozzi scored the goals.
FC Peterborough were another city team playing at new level for the first time, but they went down 3-2 at home to Eynesbury Rovers in the United Counties Premier Division South. The visitors were 3-0 up before the hosts rallied with goals from Jack Bedwell and David Yisah. Liam Hatfield was sent off when his team were 3-1 down.
Blackstones and Deeping Rangers both suffered opening day defeats at Premier Division North level. Deeping scored after two minutes through Ryan Cook, but visitors Kimberley Miners Welfare equalised immediately and scored a winning goal late in the first-half. Stones hit back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 at Clay Cross Town with goals from Harry Peasgood and Andy Irvine, but the home side pinched a winning goal 20 minutes from time.
On the friendly scene Peterborough Sports were beaten 1-0 at lower level Newport Pagnell Town, but Spalding United scored five first-half goals to see off Steve Castle’s Bishop’s Stortford 5-0 at the Sir Halley Stewart Field. Ben Fowkes scored four for Spalding.
Bourne Town sped to a 5-0 win at Stamford AFC. Bourne play one level below Stamford.
Blackstones, Deeping, March Town and Yaxley are all in midweek action.
RESULTS
United Counties Premier Division North: Clay Cross Town 3, Blackstones 2 (Irvine, Peasgood); Deeping Rangers 1 (Cook), KImberley Miners Welfare 2.
United Counties Premier Division South: FC Peterborough 2 (Bedwell, Yisah), Eynesbury Rovers 3.
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division: March Town 2 (Cavozzi, Henson), Harleston Town 0.
Thurlow Nunn Division One North: FC Parson Drove 2, Holland 3; Holbeach United 3 (Ali, Wurie, Cuelho) Long Melford 2; Needham Market Res 1, Whittlesey Athletic 3 (Barkans, Nkwueke 2); Netherton United 2 (Balde, Hooke), Halesworth Town 0.
Friendlies: Newport Pagnell 1, Peterborough Sports 0; Spalding United 5 (Fowkes 4, Roberts 2), Bishop’s Stortford 0; Stamford AFC 0, Bourne Town 5.
MIdweek games
Tuesday, July 28
Thurlow Nunn Premier Division: Soham Town Rangers v March Town.
United Counties Premier Division South: Yaxley v Sileby Rangers.
Wednesday, July 29
Thurlow Nunn Division One North: Netherton United v FC Parson Drove.
United Counties Premier Division North: Blackstones v Aylestone Park, Skegness Town v Deeping Rangers.
United Counties Premier Division South: Fc Peterborough v Desborough.