Vooght-iful for Cow The CSSFL was back with a hatful of goals, writes Darren “Statto” Jones (statto@cssfl.info)...

In the Premier Division, champions Dun Cow started slowly and found themselves behind at the break to a Louis Forbes strike for Real Stevenage. The returning John Vooght turned the game on its head with a second-half hat-trick and Ryan Butler’s penalty finished matters. Their were even forced to field 55-year-old stalwart Micky Clements. Rob Verdia grabbed a second for Real as it finished 4-2.

Piers Le-Grand fired home a free-kick to give Billet the lead, Dean Thomas added a second and debutant Dwain Grant a third as they led Broadhall 3-1 at the break. Injury forced them down to ten men for the second-half, but the game finished 3-2 as Martin Thomas and Jordan Davies netted in reply.

St Nicholas began with a win thanks to Carl Fletcher’s superb lob in the last fifteen minutes as they edged it 1-0 against promoted Marquis of Lorne.

In Division One, the two sides relegated last season made the best starts. MBDA went behind to a Gary Gibson strike for promoted Chequers after 20 minutes. However, Ashley Kersey got hold of the game and fired a hat-trick soon after to put MBDA in charge. Steve Teale pulled one back before the break, but Chequers tired after the break and this resulted in some poor defending where Si George scored with a lovely strike from the edge of the box before Kersey’s cousin Kyle Watson joined him with a late hat-trick to make it 7-2.

Lifestyles went the whole of last season without a point, but got that winning feeling back. New side Coach and Horses started the game with ten men due to a few lads being away. They still created chances, but it was Lifestyles who found the net, the much missed Carl Smith assisted Michael Difford's opening goal before scoring twice himself after the break to make it 3-0. A Ryan Ellis penalty added further to Coach’s pain before Sonny Houghton grabbed them a consolation in the 4-1 defeat.

Both sides had a handful of players missing as two rivals from their youth days met again. Bedwell Rangers were quick out of the traps with three goals in twelve first-half minutes, where the defending wasn’t the best. Jamie Fannon-Hall marked his comeback with a goal after fourteen minutes as he rose unchallenged to head home a Nick Thomas corner, who then got on the scoresheet himself to double the lead. Alex Willcocks added a third at the second attempt and it seemed they were cruising. AJS Tyres Broadhall got one back just before half-time when a fine run from Michael Emmings set up Mark Chalkley to score from close range on his league debut. AJS totally dominated after the break, with Emmings pulling the strings. A lovely near post header from Andy Lee flew in from Rob Stevenson's corner to bring them back to within a goal with just over ten minutes remaining, but Bedwell sewed up a 4-2 win when Luke Smith crossed from the right for substitute Jamie Morriss to volley home just before the end of the game.

Promoted Breachwood Lions began well, the momentum was with them for most of the first-half and MKS Carpentry’s stand-in ‘keeper Rich Wilson produced an amazing performance. However, Lions captain Iaian Turkentine finally breached him, providing two assists. Firstly, he set up Ollie Mason to fire home, then minutes later, his corner was met at the far post by the head of debutant Nick Chapman to double the lead. MKS found a goal before the break when Ade Barry’s cross eventually dropped to Neil Roskilly, who slotted home a goal they barely deserved. A ball from Ray Downes down the wing set Barry off again on the hour, he cut the ball back to Lee Metselaar, who was clipped in the box by Scott Lewis. Downes coolly slotted home the equaliser past new goalkeeper James Drury. Both sides might’ve won it, but it would’ve been cruel had anyone lost, 2-2.

Division Two saw promoted Broadhall Icon get off to a great start with a 6-2 win over Benington. Goals came from Adam Stevens (two), Perry Faulkner, Dan Gregory, Ricky Phillips and an own goal. Ryan Palmer and Louis Gilbert replied.

Old Barclavians were also promoted and also began with a 6-2 win. Captain Lee Falanga started the scoring as he followed in a free-kick from the impressive Rhys Hoenes. Tom Young put them two up when he scored from an acute angle before Joe Marshall-Zeal fired in from close range for three-nil. Jamie Burbury scored twice for Hartham Press to make it close again before Marshall-Zeal headed home his second after an excellent Bradley Vooght cross. Substitute Nick Wellings netted before Dave Warwick finished from a precise Pat Owen through-ball. Callum Rowe went close with a 40 yard effort that rattled the bar late on.

New side Pin Green got off to a good start as Mark Bridge (Two), Lewis Carroll, Leon Palma and Karl Shaw were on target in their 5-3 win over Emperors Head, who replied through Joe Whittaker (two) and David Hannaway.

Division Three saw View Point Wanderers get off to a winning start with a solid 2-0 win against Almond Tree La Coruna, for whom goalkeeper Scott Taylor did well to keep the score down. A long throw-in into the box was brillantly controlled on the chest of Allan Johnston and fired home. Wanderers’ own Scott Taylor hit a trademark goal when he cut inside and hit a rocket into the top corner from 20 yards.

Mark Chalkley (two), Garry Smith (two) and Craig Gilbert were on target as Broadhall Athletic won their opener. Sean Gumble and Gary Lineham scored consolations for Stevenage Old Town in their 5-2 defeat.