IN A climate more suited to cricket than football, the new season got under way at venues all around the borough.

Of the four clubs new to the league this season, only one came away empty handed. Park Inn found themselves on the wrong end of a 3-1 scoreline against Guide. Two goals from Steve Almond - one from the penalty spot - and a 20 yard volley from Shaun Kennedy bettered Park Inn's Glen Ainsworth goal.

Wellington Samba led the Stanley Arms defence a merry dance. Goals from John Neville (two), David Williams, Stuart Hurst and Richard Fogarty enabled them to start their life in the Third Division with maximum points. Stanley replied with two goals from Rick Stevens.

Newcomers Heys Inn found life a bit more difficult than they were used to last season. But despite the step up in standard, a Jason Threlfall goal was enough to secure a victory over West End.

Crown Berger announced their arrival in the league by decorating Sign & Poster's goal six times. Liam Taylor, Steve O'Brien and James Haworth all netted twice, while Jason Brown and Mick Sanderson provided the Posterman's reply.

King's Inn threw down the gauntlet to any team thinking of taking away their champion's mantle. They beat a decent New Gardeners team 2-0. Warren Peake and Michael Douglas were both on target.

One team who will be challenging Kings are Darwen Alexandra. Their first game at the Anchor Ground saw Brett Duxbury join Martin Horsfield on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win over promoted Servicemaster.

Last season's runners-up and Lancashire Trophy winners Old Toll Bar kicked off in style with a 3-0 win over Jubilee. An Alan Ford brace and one from midfielder Martin Pearce completed the victory. Veteran striker John Eastham opened his goal account for the Station. Karl Baxter and Paul Riley added a goal apiece to give Station a 3-1 victory over Lord Raglan. Martin Eagan scored the losers' consolation goal.

Newly promoted Dexter Paints lost out to Bee Hive. Lee Sculpher (two), Jason Sheard (two), and a first-ever goal for his club by Darren Newsham completed an easy victory.

Despite being named as the outstanding player, keeper Mick Elsto was beaten seven times in Longshaw's defeat by Malt & Hops. There were six goals from Matt Anderton and one from Adam Whittle, but Longshaw hit three in reply.

An outstanding display by Foresters saw them score eight times without reply against the luckless White Bull. Steve Mitchell provided four goals, John Murphy, Jamie Smith, Dave and Chris Rolfe adding one each. And star striker Ian Aspin was left on the subs bench.

There were four goals without reply as Uncle Jack's saw off the challenge of Lammack. Bernard Cullen, David Bates, Paul Lysons and Willie Davies were all on target. At the football outpost of Blacksnape, a first half goal from Darwen St Peters' Lee Rigby was cancelled out by a Witton Inn double strike after the break. Neil Fuller and veteran goal machine Shaun Smith made the final score 2-1.

At Pleckgate, a Paul Walsh hat trick helped Cooper Rigg overcome Fox & Hounds. There were further goals from the winners provided by John Brannigan (two), Matt Turner and Howard Clark.

A fine first half display by James Street earned them a three-goal lead at the break - a fine hat trick by Louis Moragues. But a spell of indiscipline resulted in two of their men being sent off and opponents Marriotts took full advantage. Four goals from Garth Cronshaw, a Neil Fox hat trick, plus one apiece from Lee Dickinson and Garth Lowe punished James Street heavily.

Results - Division One: Dexter Paints 0, Bee Hive 5; Jubilee 0, Old Toll Bar 3; Kings Inn 2, New Gardeners 0; Lord Raglan 1, Station 3; Darwen Alex 2, Servicemaster 0. Division Two: Cooper Rigg 7, Fox & Hounds 0; Darwen SP 1, Witton Inn 2; Foresters 8, White Bull 0; Heys Inn 1, West End 0; Lammack 0, Uncle Jack's 4.

Division Three: Malt & Hops 7, Longshaw 3; Marriotts Acct 9, James Street 3; Park Inn 1, Guide 3; Sign & Poster 2, Crown Berger 6; Stanley Arms 2, Wellington Samba 5.

Fixtures for Sunday - LFA Sunday Trophy first round: Wellington Samba v Kings Inn (Pleasington); Top House (Rochdale) v Servicemaster.

Division One: Bee Hive v Station; Dexter Paints v New Gardeners; Jubilee v Darwen Alex (Pleasington).

Division Two: Cooper Rigg v Witton Inn; Darwen St Peter's v White Bull; Foresters v Wet End; Lammack v Corning Communications (all Pleasington); Heys Inn v Fox & Hounds (Pleckgate One).

Division Three: James Street v Sign & Poster; Longshaw v Park Inn; Malt & Hops v Marriotts Accountants (Pleasington); Crown Berger v GFR Plumbing (Oakenhurst); Guide v Stanley Arms (Pleckgate Two).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.