Last season’s JD Cymru North runners-up Airbus UK Broughton started the new campaign with a 3-0 win away at Buckley Town on Saturday, inspired by George Peers’ hat-trick.
Peers, who now has four league trebles in the last 12 months, opened the scoring in the 19th minute, tapping in at the back post after Kieran Evans’ cross was not fully cleared by the Buckley defence.
The forward fired home his second of the afternoon seven minutes into the second half after being played through by debutant Mason Blackwell-Jones, before completing his hat-trick in the 68th minute with a composed finish from Sam Rickett’s cut-back.
Newtown began life in the JD Cymru North with a comfortable 3-0 win over Ruthin Town at Latham Park on Friday night.
The Robins took just five minutes to open the scoring in their first competitive game under new boss Nathan Leonard as Jamie Hyne, a summer signing from Guilsfield, found the back of the net with a clinical strike past Dan Goldston.
Hyne doubled his and Newtown’s tally five minutes into the second half as he applied the finishing touch to Louis Jacobs’ corner. Jacobs added his own name to the scoresheet to wrap up the win just before the hour mark, firing into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Denbigh Town ended a 27-year wait for a home win on the opening day of a second tier campaign as they triumphed 3-2 over Caersws.
Brown put Denbigh in front just before half-time as he latched onto Tom Weir’s threaded pass and scooped the ball over Max Williams.
Caersws were back level eight minutes into the second period as Rhys Hesden’s effort from distance squirmed under Elijah Beattie, but Dan Flanders restored Denbigh’s lead just four minutes later as he headed home from Brown’s corner.
Denbigh summer signings Owen Payne and Matt Worrall combined for the latter to extend the advantage on 78 minutes, which proved crucial to securing victory as Craig Harris grabbed a goal back for Caersws two minutes later.
Holywell Town captain Danny Sullivan struck a late winner to earn his side a narrow 2-1 home victory over Flint Mountain on Saturday.
New Wellmen signing Zak Kempster-Down marked his debut in style as he opened the scoring with a neat finish after just three minutes played.
Owen Cassidy pulled Mountain level early in the second half, but an outrageous long range strike from Sullivan in the 84th minute saw Holywell claim victory.
There was also late drama at the MKH Stadium on Saturday as Owain James scored a late equaliser to salvage a point for Penrhyncoch in a 2-2 draw with Mold Alexandra.
It was a frantic first seven minutes in Flintshire as Morgan Roberts struck early for the Alex, before Dan Owen responded swiftly with a close-range equaliser.
Cynan Edwards put Mold back in front with a tidy finish just after the hour mark, but Roosters captain James was left unmarked from a corner in the 84th minute, allowing him to head home and earn his side a point.
After finishing last season with five consecutive wins, Guilsfield began the new campaign with a 3-1 win against Gresford Athletic at the Hollingsworth Group Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Gavin Allen’s side took the lead after just six minutes played as teenager Rhys Tilsley sent a looping header over Josh Roberts, before summer signing Sam Flory doubled the lead from close range in the 27th minute.
Jake Roberts halved the deficit for Gresford four minutes before half-time, but Guils frontman Iwan Matthews restored the two-goal cushion with a powerful finish seconds before the break. The visitors saw out the second half to seal opening weekend victory.
Holyhead Hotspur’s first game back in the JD Cymru North ended in defeat as they were beaten 1-0 by Llandudno at the Go Goodwins Stadium on Friday.
The Seasiders initially thought they had taken the lead on the half hour mark through Adam Stephens, but the offside flag was raised against the forward.
The breakthrough eventually arrived four minutes into the second when Harvey Bennett slid the ball home from close range, with Llandudno defending well throughout the remainder of the game to secure the three points.
Nothing could separate the other two newly-promoted teams as Rhyl 1879 and Brickfield Rangers played out a goalless draw at the Hops and Barley Community Stadium.
Rhyl piled on the pressure for the majority of the second half, but the Rangers defence did their job to secure a point and become only the third side in the last 12 months to keep a clean sheet against the Lilywhites.
Weekend results in full:
Denbigh Town 3-2 Caersws
Llandudno 1-0 Holyhead Hotspur
Newtown 3-0 Ruthin Town
Rhyl 1879 0-0 Brickfield Rangers
Buckley Town 0-3 Airbus UK Broughton
Gresford Athletic 1-3 Guilsfield
Holywell Town 2-1 Flint Mountain
Mold Alexandra 2-2 Penrhyncoch
