The new Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League season got underway on Sunday and there were plenty of goals as usual Premier Division champions Nirankari Sports Sabha started with a win but not before a fright against new boys AFC Proverbial. Ben l honore

The new Comet Stevenage Sunday Football League season got underway on Sunday and there were plenty of goals as usual

Premier Division champions Nirankari Sports Sabha started with a win but not before a fright against new boys AFC Proverbial.

Ben l'honore (two), Ricky Case (two) and Nathan Grinstead netted but AFC were level at 2-2 thanks to a superb lob from Martin Wilson and a good finish from older brother Craig.

New-look Dun Cow also started in shaky style, sharing four goals as they did in their first game last season.

Player-manager Micky Clements - 50 in November - set up Adam Furness' equaliser after a 25-yard strike from Steve Gibbons and one from John Vooght had twice given Hermit of Redcoats the lead. Danny Lane grabbed the first equaliser.

Promoted Mallard were stunned by a second-half comeback. Craig Reynolds and Riki Dance had put them in charge, Dave Delancy netted the solitary reply. However, after the break, Shaun McDermott, Bruce Bass and Alan Collins turned the game around to win it for Broadhall.

Bottles were handed the points as Old Red Lion disappointingly failed to field a side on the opening day.

In Division One, fancied Probuild started with an easy win over Hogshead, Stuart MacKenzie (two) and Lee Gribben on target.

New side Pig and Whistle went in front through John Johnston's strike but MBDA turned the game around thanks to Ray Downes' bullet header, Gav Bowler's 25-yard volley and Jamie Campany's strikes.

Relegated Peartree started extremely well, hot-shot James Khakpour-Smith started with a hat-trick, Andy Parrish (two), Keith Swift, Dan Curtin and a David Sell own goal completed the rout. Sell did score at the other end, along with George Birchenall for new boys Aston Athletic.

Pin Green edged out Stevenage Colts Old Boys (Richard Tyler) thanks to a long-range free-kick from Paul Ingram-Tedd and James Pirie's strike after Richard Griffiths' run and cut back.

The game between Stevenage Celtic Supporters and Coopers did not go ahead due to the unavailability of Hampson and Shephalbury parks.

Division Two saw the fancied FC Rising Sun begin with a win. Andy Davies (two), the impressive Riyston Williams (two) and Chris Bunker netted. Neil Roskilly (two) and Jim McGarry replied for Triage.

New side Emperors Head started with a good win, Tony Webb's brace seeing off Crooked Billet.

Relegated Norwich Union got off to a winning start, Stewart Duff, Greg Collins, Dave Banks and Ed Holloway were on the mark, a Dave Holmes brace was mere consolation for King Pin United.

Neil Henderson's brace was not enough for ProCladd as one from Chris McGrath and a Stuart Archer double saw debutants Old Social home.

Another new side grabbed a point. Rapidsource's Ben Nash hit the net in reply to a fantastic strike from Granby St George's Paul Cooper.

As last year, Division Three was the place for goals. Bottles Res were biggest winners, John Saunders (hat-trick), Justin Brown (two), Rob Duckworth and Dan Conboy were on target against Athletico Timebridge, for whom Kyle Brown netted a hat-trick and Ray Swarts got one.

White Horse hit AFC Stevenage for six. The old Our Mutual Friend boys were back together as brothers Jason and Darren Lovelock scored, as did Frazer Triggs, Pete Summers, Jamie Robertson and Steve Malocco, Lewis McLean and Dean Shakespeare hitting the consolations.

The most dramatic game saw MC Racing lead through a fluke goal from Nik Tribe. MBDA Res began the second-half with a three-goal blitz in 10 minutes through Alan Kenney after 20 seconds, a Sam Bickerstaff free-kick and Dave Byatt's penalty.

Last season's Division Three top scorer Steve Teale pulled one back before Steve Stapleton's good finish seemed to sew the game up with 10 minutes remaining. Another Teale strike, Jon Lewys' own goal and then a tremendous finish from Tom Kelly turned the game around.

Lee Setterfield scored for Fox to earn them a point against Crown.

Marquis of Lorne gained the points over Hen and Chickens, who failed to raise a side.

This Sunday sees the welcome return of Shephalbury Park after an 18-month lay-off due to vandalism.

RESULTS

(Sunday, September 3)

Premier Division: Dun Cow 2 Hermit of Redcoats 2, Mallard 2 Broadhall 4, Nirankari SS 5 AFC Proverbial 2, Old Red Lion v Bottles (off; away win).

Division One: Aston Ath 2 Peartree 8, MBDA 3 Pig and Whistle 1, Pin Green 2 Stev Colts OB 1, Probuild 3 Hogshead 0, Stev Celtic Supps v Coopers (off).

Division Two: Emperors Head 2 Crooked Billet 0, Norwich Union 4 King Pin Utd 2, Old Social 3 ProCladd 2, Rapidsource 1 Granby St George 1, Triage 3 FC Rising Sun 5.

Division Three: Bottles Res 7 Ath Timebridge 4, Fox 1 Crown 1, Marquis of Lorne v Hen and Chickens (off; home win), MC Racing 5 MBDA Res 4, White Horse 6 AFC Stev 2.

FIXTURES

(Sunday, September 10)

Premier Division: AFC Proverbial v Dun Cow (KG3), Bottles v Bedwell Ath (MP), Broadhall v Nirankari SS (SP4, 10.00), Hermit of Redcoats v Old Red Lion (SP1, 10.30), Station v Mallard (SP3, 10.00).

Division One: Breachwood L v Pin Green (Brea), Coopers v Stev Colts OB (HP2), Hogshead v Stev Celtic Supps (CP3), Peartree v MBDA (PP1), Pig and Whistle v Aston Ath (RE3).

Division Two: Crooked Billet v FC Rising Sun (KG2), King Pin Utd v Granby St George (HP3), ProCladd v Newcotech (CW4), Rapidsource v Emperors Head (PP5), Triage v Norwich Union (PP3).

Division Three: AFC Stev v Hen and Chickens (CP1), Ath Timebridge v White Horse (RE4), Marquis of Lorne v MC Racing (KG1), MBDA Res v Crown (Barc), North Herts Celtic v Bottles Res (CW1).

Invitation Cup: Old Social (0v1) Fox (RE5), Probuild (0v2) Nirankari SS Res (CP2).