Premier Division

Oakview’s quest for a fifth straight Premier Division title began with a dramatic 2-2 draw against last season’s third-placed side Rickmansworth Town.

The champions went close to opening the scoring when Daryl Brown saw his header crash against the crossbar following a Lee Grace corner, but they were not to be denied three minutes before the break when Warren Gladdy slipped a ball behind the defence to Adam Lowton, who rounded the goalkeeper to score.

The second half developed into a strong physical battle and Oakview hit the woodwork for the second time when Brown saw a shot from some 35 yards out cannon back into play off the bar with the keeper beaten.

They were left to rue not scoring a second goal when Rickmansworth drew level from the penalty spot with 18 minutes left, the spot-kick dispatched by Harry Brock.

It looked like Oakview had clinched the three points when as the game edged into added-on time Spencer Bellotti nipped in ahead of a defender to toe poke the ball home.

But there was still time for Town to equalise again thanks to a well-taken free-kick from Jon Baker in the fourth additional minute.

The team that finished between Oakview and Rickmansworth last season, Reed Rangers, suffered a 4-1 away defeat to Rifle Volunteer.

It was the home side who opened the scoring slightly against the run of play when Terry Cooper played a long raking pass for Andy Lomas to slot home from a tight angle.

Nick Kerley doubled the lead just before the break, and he went on to score two more almost identical goals in the second half, before Reed pulled a goal back late on from Chris Blunden.

Last season’s First Division champions Old Danes Athletic held St Josephs to a 2-2 draw.

Taylor Cobb put St Josephs ahead after 17 minutes, but the home side drew level just three minutes later when a pass from Chris White across the penalty area was turned in by Josh Burks.

Like the first half, the second period also saw two goals in three minutes as first Roy Bryon gave the visitors the lead for a second time with 17 minutes left, but once again Old Danes drew level when Ross Bennett lobbed home.

Old Danes had a glorious chance to take all three points with three minutes remaining when they were awarded a penalty after Adam Cressweller handled on the line and was sent off, but White put his penalty wide.

Fox & Hounds, who had easily taken the Second Division title last season and have been promoted two tiers, started life in the top flight with a win, beating Old Fullerians 2-1.

Charlie Hailey volleyed the home ahead from eight yards just before the break, but in the second half Fox hit back with goals from Bradley Thompson and the winner from Glenn Burgess.

Chorleywood Club enjoyed a 3-0 home victory over West Herts Sports.

The hosts opened the scoring after 15 minutes through James Edwards and it remained that way until the last quarter-of-an-hour when Edwards netted his second.

Nicholas Holden completed the scoring two minutes from time.

Division One

FC Unicorn enjoyed a good start to the new season with a 5-0 away win over North Watford.

The home side had the better of the opening exchanges and the Unicorn goal survived a heavy assault. But North Watford were made to pay for not making the breakthrough when Callum O'Connor chased a ball over the top and lifted it over the oncoming keeper to make it 1-0.

Unicorn were content to sit back after the break and hit the home side on the counter-attack which they did four times, with goals coming from Craig McKay, a second from O’Connor, George Kus, and a contender for goal of the season when Dylan Stewart scored from the half way line.

Having finished in third place last season but with a new-look side, Colne Valley had a dream start against Bushey Sports Club, when some neat one-touch football allowed Krasi Makaveev to score with a well-taken effort from an acute angle.

Valley dominated the opening 25 minutes but failed to add to their lead, missing several good chances, before Bushey equalised from a long range free-kick when dropped into the net.

The visitors were by far the better side in the second half and scored a further four goals to run out 5-2 winners after the contest ended as it had begun with a goal from Makaveev.

The Bushey goals came courtesy of two each from Dale Jenkins and Rob Gradwell, with one from Hassan Zeizale.

Compasses North got off to a winning start, beating Croxley FC 6-2 through Maz Urgo’s double and singles from Mark O'Connor, Dan Hackner, Kieran Harvey and Danny Brennan. Chris Monastiritris netted a brace for the away side.

Cassiobury Rangers got the better of RD FC 3-2 after taking a two-goal advantage into the break with a goal scored directly from a corner by James Craggs and a close-range finish from Jack Henley.

RD railed in the second half, James Cross pulling one back, before Frankie Henley scored a third following a swift counter-attack.

Jake Levy again reduced Rangers’ advantage to one but RD were unable to force an equaliser.

The game between the two sides who finished third and second in the Second Division last season, Evergreen and Langleybury CC, ended in a 1-0 win for the home side.

The only goal came in the second half when debutant Tom Verbena headed home for Evergreen after a great run and cross from Chris Johns on the right.

Division Two

Ten-man FC Woodside beat Bedmond 3-1 after taking the lead in the first half.

Bedmond levelled ten minutes into the second period through Tedi Prushi, but once again they were caught on the break, with Woodside scoring twice in the final ten minutes. Tom Ford netted twice and Michael Griffin once to secure the three points.

Ardent beat Rickmansworth Athletic 3-2 thanks to Charlie Salvage’s brace and one from Kiefer Shuttleworth, although they were helped by a man-of-the-match performance from Nick Busfield-Birch. Shane Kitts and Anthony Pitt netted for Athletic.

Tudor Athletic enjoyed a 6-1 win over Oxhey Rangers for whom Dan Pippin scored their consolation. Mike Varcoe led the way for Tudor with a hat-trick, James Hocking added a brace and Jack Robertson was also on target.

AFC Green Machine beat Woodland United 2-0 through two penalties, one apiece from Charlie Fowler and Daniel Perry.

Division Three

Title favourites The Tree started with a 4-0 home win over Hertfordshire Lions, with Glenn O'Malley scoring twice and one each from Chris Morris and Andy Pryor.

The biggest scorers on the day though were P&P Social who put eight goals past Bricketwood Social in an 8-1 win.

Reece Davies led the way with two, while the other goals were shared equally between Donik Sopa, Aaron Prince, Jake Dyer, Callum Spalding, Louie Lobjoit and Billy Lobjoit. Martin Sanseverino netted Social’s consolation.

The other games in the division ended in away wins, with Dave Flannery’s hat-trick on debut leading Sun Regent Sports to a 6-2 victory over Inter. Aaron Crawford netted twice and Ben Dunton also scored, while Chris Stead struck both the home side’s replies.

Bushey Rangers enjoyed a 4-2 win over Hertsmere thanks to goals from Dan Gillespie, James Henney, Charlie Barnett and Perry Ross. Aaron Furness and Ben Mothing were on target for Hertsmere.

A single goal from Lee Cushen was enough for Revolution to beat AC Little Silhouette of Milan.

Division Four

Having failed to win a single league game last season and picking up only a point, Chess United had a better start to the new campaign with a 1-0 win over Garston Athletic through Jack Honey’s winner.

New boys Everett Rovers put down a marker with a 10-1 win over NW FC.

It took until nearly 20 minutes for the first goal to arrive through Alex Gilbert, but this started a goal-fest as Reece Cameron and Sean Moore were also on target before the break to open up a 4-0 lead.

The second half saw the same three players strike again, with Gilbert and Cameron scoring a total of four goals each and Moore netting a second. Mansoor Ali registered NW’s sole reply.

The derby between Batchworth and AFC Batchworth ended in a surprise goalless draw, whilst the all-South Oxhey clash between Oxhey Athletic and South Oxhey ended in a 4-1 away win. Perry Harding netted for Athletic but Will Wilson’s hat-trick and a Liam Coles goal secured a comfortable victory.

The other game in the division also ended in a 4-1 triumph for the visiting side, with Railway Arms coming back from 1-0 down at the break to defeat Sun Postal Sports.

Lewis Gordon gave Sun their first-half advantage, but Arms struck back through two-goal Sean Roach with two and one each from Jack Merrix and Joe Perrin.