Our local non league teams playing the Football Conference kicked off at the weekend.
Newly promoted Salford City playing their first game in the Premier Division were held 1-1 at home to Leyton Orient, the former league team in their second season outside of the Football League.
The Ammies took the lead in front of BT Sport’s cameras early in the second half through Rory Gaffney before the O’s equalised through Craig Clay.
“We’re all frustrated at not taking the three points because we deserved it over the course of 90 minutes, I thought we needed to get that second goal to give us some breathing space,” said manager Graham Alexander.
“I thought we created some really good opportunities today and I was delighted with the way we played, I thought we mixed our game up really well.”
In the Conference North, Stockport got off to a flyer against FC United, putting five past the Reds.It was their first five-goal opening-day haul in 27 years in front of a crowd of 4,600-plus at Edgeley Park.
A brace for Matty Warburton, sandwiched in between Frank Mulhern’s opener and late goals from captain Paul Turnbull and substitute Kallum Mantack, destroyed the visitors for whom one-time County trialist Kurt Willoughby netted a consolation 20 minutes from time.
Newly promoted Altrincham drew 2-2 with Leamington, having fallen behind in the 28th minute.Hulme headed in a towering cross to equalise early in the second,but a minute later, Leamington re-took the lead through Gittings,Alty regained parity again, six minutes later, when Johnston advanced and Hancock threaded the ball through for Hulme to score.
It was a first ever game at this level for Ashton United, though it ended in a disappointing goalless stalemate at Hurst Cross against Nuneaton, but Curzon Ashton probably put in the performance of the day with a 2-1 at Darlington coming from behind with goals from Mason Fawns and Connor Hughes.
