FOOTBALL: Pointon defeat reigning champions in opening match

So it was a warm welcome to the three new clubs, namely East Coast, Fulbeck and Horncastle Town Reserves, and two new reserve sides, Fosdyke Reserves and Boston College Reserves.

As several clubs opted for a blank fixture for the opening day, only 10 games were scheduled to take place and that number was reduced to nine when East Coast declared that they had no team coach to manage the side.

Taylors Garages Premier Division

Last season’s champions, Wyberton Reserves, came unstuck in spectacular fashion in their opening match as they began their defence of the title away at Pointon.

A goalkeeping crisis hadn’t helped the visitors and they fell to a heavy 5-2 defeat. Pointon striker, Ian Jacquest did most of the damage for the home side hitting an impressive hat-trick. Jamie Andrews and Casey Kemp completed the rout and Wyberton returned home licking their wounds but still desperate to resolve their selection problems.

Spilsby Town, last season’s runners-up, had no such problems when they kicked off their season thumping Heckington Millers 8-0.

The Millers remained in the game during the first half as they trailed by 2-0 to a home team who were slowly clicking into gear.

A dominant second half display saw Spilsby completely overrun their opponents and they could easily have run up double figures as several further chances went begging. Michael Hardy and Jordan Smith both grabbed a brace of goals each while Jordan Turner, Josh Wood, Jordan Wood and Eddie Rich made sure of a faultless start to their campaign.

There were more goals at Swineshead Institute where the home side eventually saw off the challenge of Ruskington Rovers.

The 6-2 home win was probably slightly misleading as Ruskington found themselves trailing only 3-2 for the majority of the game. It was only a late goal blitz that finally saw Swineshead put the game to bed.

Swineshead’s match-winners were Jack Houghton 2, Richard Barker 2, Bert Snaith and Callum Simmons.