The season started at the weekend with three new teams caking the complement up to 11 sides with the inclusion Swalwell, Seaham Red Star and Blackfyne.

The trio had mixed fortunes with only Seaham winning on their visit to North Tyneside College. Despite goals by Scott Milne, Ben Working and Shaun O'Neill, the College went down 5-3 to the newcomers for whom Ben Harris got a hat trick and other goals came from Glen Wessen and Josh Mincher.

Swalwell suffered a 9-0 defeat when they hosted New Hartley for whom James Brown(3), Michael Latimer (2), Simon Gowley (2), Lee Dixon and Chris Batey found the net.

Blackfyne visited Walker Central for their opening match and left pointless after suffering a 6-0 defeat. Neil Hooks, Dean Scott, Andrew Weeks, Wynn Fremlin, Shaun Quinn and Ian Graham were on target.

Goals were less plentiful when Prudhoe Town hosted Consett and it was the Steelmen who came out on top by a 2-1 margin. John Pleat and Andrew Whiteford struck for Consett and Lee Pringle was on the mark for Prudhoe. Unfortunately, Pringle broke a leg shortly after finding the net.

Chester-le-Street romped to a 6-0 victory at home to West Denton with strikes by Stephen Richardson (2), Chris Laws, Martin Urwin, Craig Watson and Andrew Bulford.