Fairs Software League champions Whitley Bay were beaten by newcomers Chester-le-Street Town as they opened their season at Moor Park on Saturday.

The game opened at a fast and furious pace and neither side managed to settle into a pattern as a string of events during the course of the match left both managers tearing their hair out.

Paul McDonald bundled the ball home to given Chester a 20th minute lead before the Cestrians were forced to reshuffle the whole formation after an injury to David Lowther. The home side then lost their shape and it was no surprise when Simon Rae capitalised on a mistake by Michael Renshaw to fire an unstoppable equaliser off the underside of the bar in the 44th minute.

After the break Chester came out stronger and went 2-1 up in the 55th minute when Daniel Graham outpaced the defence to round goalkeeper Joe Cramily and slot the ball into an empty net. Within 10 minutes Daniel Graham chested a cross down and coolly slotted the ball home for the second.

Things then got worse for Whitley Bay when goalkeeper Cramily was dismissed for an off the ball incident. Chester pushed strongly towards the end of the game looking for more goals but the Champions held firm.

Chester-le-Street: Beckwith, Coulson, Renshaw, Lowther (Dawson 28), Haggon, Flynn, Watson (G Draper 84), Newby, Graham, McDonald (Adamson 78), Smith. Subs not used: R Draper, M Rome.

Whitley Bay: Cramily, Foster, Evans, Davison, Roughead, Fenwick, Johnson, Law, Rae, Robson. Subs not used: Outler, McCutheon, Milley, Gray, Milner.