DAVE EVANS was left frustrated as Buckley Town started their season with a home defeat at the hands of Denbigh Town.
This was the first game in charge of the team at The Globe for Evans, who admitted to be pleased with many aspects of his side’s performance in a 4-2 reverse.
The main bugbear came defensively, though, as Denbigh hit the ground running.
Evans told Cymru Sport: “The first competitive game here at The Globe. I mean, it’s always hard to reflect on a defeat so close after the game.
“It’s pointless me saying we played well for long periods, because I do think we did and I think we created enough chances to more than be in that game.
“But, we’ve just got to be better at the back. I mean, I’m not just on about the back-four, I’m on about collectively as a team.
“You know, to go 1-0 up, we’re in the ascendancy, we’re playing really well and then we’ve just been done by one hook straight over the top that’s left their winger cut inside and score.
“There’s a very similar goal for the third, where we’re in the ascendancy, we’ve got the ball.”
It was a bright start from Buckley, who went ahead through Aled Bellis in the ninth minute.
Tom Kelly came up with an equaliser just three minutes later and Nathan Brown’s penalty handed the visitors the lead midway through the first half.
Kelly grabbed his second to extend the advantage prior to the half-time interval.
Ffranc Vaughan-Evans put the game to bed with Denbigh’s fourth goal late on, while there was a consolation for Buckley via Ben Guest’s penalty.
Evans added: “It’s frustrating today, because there’s lots of it that was good and isolated parts that we were poor, and it’s them poor parts that have cost us four goals.”
Title favourites Bala Town opened their account with a thrilling 2-1 success in their Gwynedd clash away to Ardal North West League champions Bangor City 1876.
With a crowd of over 1,300 in attendance, this proved to be the pick of the opening weekend’s action on Friday night.
Steve Fisher’s Lakesiders went in front in the 56th minute when former Holywell Town and Airbus striker Craig Lindfield opened his account for the campaign.
Ex-The New Saints attacker Declan McManus dragged Bangor level in the 63rd minute and it appeared as if the teams would have to be satisfied with a point apiece.
Bala had other ideas, though, and Charlie Fisher netted a dramatic winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
It was also 2-1 as Holyhead Hotspur prevailed away to Ruthin Town. Corey Jones and Jamie Jones’ last minute effort won it for the away side, while Luke Edwards was on the scoresheet for Ruthin.
Newly-promoted Porthmadog started with a fine 3-1 triumph at Penrhyncoch, who struck through Jakub Michalski.
Osian Ellis, Dylan Summers-Jones and Rhys-Alun Williams sealed things for Port.
Rhyl 1879 and Guilsfield played out a 1-1 draw, with Reece Fairhurst and Alistair Williams the respective marksmen.
Toby Wynne scored the first goal of the North East Wales League - and it turned out to be the winner!
Wynne netted a minute into the second half as Acton triumphed 1-0 at Lex XI in their Division One derby.
Liam Davies, who also missed a penalty, set up Wynne’s goal.
