THE BSF Over-35s football season opened on Sunday with 29 teams playing in three Divisions. There were originally 30 teams, but Salford Reds withdrew from Division Two because the core of the team defected to a couple of local Division One sides, both of whom opened with 4-0 victories.

Lyndon Howarth scored twice with Chris Bates and Anthony Rice adding one each for Moorside Rangers to give them victory over North Walkden (formerly Walkden CC).

A David Beaumont goal and a Brian Love hat trick gave Salford Waggon the points against last season’s Division One champions Daten FC who only conceded 17 league goals throughout the campaign.

Astley Bridge stormed into a three-goal first half lead against last season’s Division Two champions Turton Bay Mare. After the break, the promotes struck back to make it 3-2 before Astley Bridge scored a fourth, however, Turton were not finished and scored a third ten minutes from the end, but the home side hung on for a 4-3 win.

Radcliffe Old Boys A had a good away win at Atherton Town. The scores were level at one each going into the second half during which Radcliffe score to take the points. Darrly Martinus scored for the home side whilst Paul Bentley and Karl Beswick scored for the visitors.

Queen Lizzie and Cheers Bar unleashed the energy stored up over the summer and produced a ten-goal thriller which Queen Lizzie won 6-4. Trevor Hill scored one, Gaz Curnock, two, and Neil Ross hit a second half hat trick for Lizzie whilst Daniel Jordan (2), Simon Jackson and Phil Porter were on target for Cheers Bar.

Promoted from Division Three as champions, Radcliffe Old Boys B made a good start in Division Two at home to Ainsworth A. With it one each at half time, Radcliffe went on to win 3-1 with goals from Simon Dolan, Joey Jarret and Andy Spensley.

Chorlton Sports blitzed PF Bury 6-0 at Bury. Noel Coleman opened for Chorlton, but Bury kept them in check till 15 minutes from the interval when Coleman struck again. After the interval, Coleman completed his hat trick, then David Silcot, Micky Vanden and new striker Daniel Abucewicz got in on the action to make it six.

Ashtonians and BLGC shared the points as Peter Hitchens and Jimmy Reynolds scored to produce a 1-1 draw.

Golborne Parkside’s No.9 (who used to be called a centre forward, there to score the goals) gave Golborne a half time lead away to Old Boltonians, but they hit back as Andy Beardsworth and Steve Cartwright scored to salvage a point from a 2-2 draw.

The Division Three game between Breightmet United and Bolton Wyersdale ended even at 4-4. Damion Smith (2) Chris Pepsil and Dean Taylor scored for Breightmet, but Chris Fairclough (2), Brian Leith and Simon Darcy levelled for the visitors.

Dobbies won 2-1 away to Failsworth Home Guard for whom Nathan Cook scored, but Dobbies took full points thanks to goals from Anthony Healey and Robert Howarth.

The three other games in Division Three produced 19 goals in a couple of 4-2 results and a 7-0. Radcliffe Old Boys C and Broadway are both new names this season and are therefore unknown quantities, but Broadway stamped their mark on the Division with a 7-0 away win, their goals being provided by Brendon Morley (2), Mikehall Instone, Mikehall, Coates, Matthew West, John Gilmartin and Andrew Mac. Mark Glynn and Paul Murphy scored for Whitefield Con Club, but they were out-gunned by Elton Liberals for whom Leroy Reid (2), Mark Lewis and Ste Mahon who chipped the keeper from 20 years with his first touch after just coming on, making the score 4-2 to visitors Elton.

The other 4-2 result was a home win for Ainsworth B against Cross Guns. James Bamber (2), Paul Roscoe and Paul Rammlack scored for Ainsworth with Neil Mulgreedy and Darren Mills on target for Cross Guns.

RESULTS Division One: Astley Bridge Vets 4 Turton Bay Mare 3, North Walkden 0 Moorside Rangers 4, Salford Waggon 4 Daten FC 0, Queen Lizzie 6 Cheers Bar Vets FC 4, Atherton Town FC 1 Radcliffe Old Boys A 2.

Division Two: Radcliffe Old Boys B 3 Ainsworth A 1, Old Boltonians AFC 2 Golborne Parkside Vets 2, PF Bury Vets 0 Chorlton Sports Vets 6, Ashtonian Vets 1 BLGC 1.

Division Three: Radcliffe Old Boys C 0 Broadway Vets AFC 7, Ainsworth B 4 Cross Guns 2, Failsworth Home Guard Vets FC 1 Dobbies S&SC 2, Bolton Wyresdale AFC 4 Breightmet United 4, Whitefield Con Club FC 2 Elton Liberal FC 4.