Premier Division round-up: Away day successes put duo top

By James Gordon

Gainsborough Trinity and Marine both won 3-0 away from home to kick-off the new Northern Premier League season.

The Holy Blues got off to a dream start with the quickest goal on the opening day, Jack Dyche scoring in the opening 11 seconds away at newly-promoted Warrington Rylands.

Andrew Wright’s penalty doubled their lead after 14 minutes and Clayton Donaldson made the points safe early in the second half.

Marine, who were promoted alongside Rylands as play-off winners, made Guiseley’s return to the Northern Premier League one to forget.


The Yorkshiremen were relegated from National League North last season and were soundly beaten by Neil Young’s men.

Lucas Weir put them in front on 17 minutes, and late goals from Jake Burton and Callum Harris made sure of the points - with Guiseley’s day made worse by a red card for Jorge Sikora.

Stafford Rangers would have joined the top two with a three-goal win but for a late goal conceded at home to Bamber Bridge.

But it was still a more than satisfactory afternoon for Matt Hill’s men, who came back from conceding early to Finlay Sinclair-Smith to win 4-2.

A Harvey Hughes own goal levelled things up before Tom Tonks put Stafford in front from the penalty spot.

Ntumba Massanka and Alex Kiwomya gave Stafford a three goal lead before Rhys Turner’s late consolation.

Two late goals earned Warrington Town a 2-0 home win over Morpeth Town.

They had to wait until the 89th minute until Isaac Buckley-Ricketts broke the deadlock, before Jordan Buckley doubled their advantage in injury time.

Ashton United also left it late to secure three points, substitute Max Harrop scoring seven minutes from time in a 1-0 victory at newly promoted Liversedge.

There were only two draws on opening day in the Premier Division, and one of them came late at Hyde, as Jack Redshaw’s equaliser for the hosts meant Radcliffe had to settle for a point.

Radcliffe led thanks to Courtney Meppen-Walter’s goal on the half hour mark.

Elsewhere, Lancaster City and Nantwich Town exchanged second half goals in a 1-1 draw.

A crowd of 2,001 watched South Shields defeat Stalybridge Celtic 2-0 with goals in either half from Michael Woods and Joao Gomez-Carrington.

Matlock Town’s new striker Jerome Slew got off to the perfect start as his goal proved the only one in the game at home to Whitby Town, while Atherton Collieries came from behind to open up the season with a fine 2-1 win at FC United.

Two of the division’s newboys met in the north east, and it was a perfect start for Marske United who were 3-1 winners over Belper Town.

Glen Butterworth put them in front inside two minutes before Adam Boyes opened up his account for the season in the first half. Tom Hewlett pulled one back on the hour mark but Dale Hopson made sure of the points.

There is another full programme of fixtures in the Premier Division on Tuesday night.

Results - Saturday 13 August

FC United of Manchester 1-2 Atherton Collieries
Guiseley 0-3 Marine
Hyde United 1-1 Radcliffe
Lancaster City 1-1 Nantwich Town
Liversedge 0-1 Ashton United
Marske United 3-1 Belper TOwn
Matlock Town 1-2 Whitby Town
South Shields 2-0 Stalybridge Celtic
Stafford Rangers 4-2 Bamber Bridge
Warrington Rylands 0-3 Gainsborough Trinity
Warrington Town 2-0 Morpeth Town

Photo Credit: Liversedge v Ashton United by Paul Butterfield

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2022/23 fixture amendments #4 Please note the following changes.
Opening Day Radio Commentaries 18 matches to welcome in the big kickoff

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