DORCHESTER justified their elevation to Division 1 with an opening day 2-1 victory at champions Saxton Rovers, writes PHIL ANNETS.

Kyle Allsworth opened the scoring for Saxton, but Dorchester replied through Jamie Fleet and Josh Nicholls.

Division 2 champions Ardington and Lockinge cruised to a 5-1 home victory over Wallingford Town with a hat-trick from captain Tom Rowe and a goal apiece for Jonny Eudell and Jamie Wilkins.

Mickey Bone scored the consolation. Andy Chilvers also netted a hat-trick for Wootton & Dry Sandford in their impressive 6-1 home win over Lambourn Sports, returning to the North Berks League after two seasons in the Hellenic League.

Ben Taylor, Tom Nicholls and Yurlan Deniev were also on target for the league leaders whilst Scott Southby replied for Lambourn.

North Berks Cup holders Long Wittenham Athletic won 2-0 at home to Harwell International via strikes from Joe Cheong and Tim Barton.

It ended all square between Berinsfield and Crowmarsh Gifford as Mark Ingram’s strike for the hosts was cancelled out by a Tim Holton effort in a 1-1 draw.

Kintbury Rangers and Faringdon Town also shared the spoils as they fought out a 2-2 draw.

Adam Drake and Jake Shearsby netted for Kintbury, whilst Dan Martin and Paul Hulme responded for Faringdon.

It was a clean sweep for the away sides in Division 2.

Marcham won 7-2 at Sutton Courtenay, with John Lloyd netting five times alongside goals from Lewis Hill and Jonny Eldridge.

Pawel Brodzinski bagged a hollow brace for the home side.

Abingdon United Res also won handsomely, 5-0 at Radley, thanks to a Steve Pitson double and efforts from Paul Druce, Ross Tabor and Tom Larman.
 

East Hendred began life in Division 2 with a 5-1 win at Drayton.
 

Jason Moss, Sam Baring, Shane McGowran, Aiden Necchi-Ghiri and Ricardo Riccio were all on the scoresheet – they even contributed the home side’s consolation goal.
 

Strikes from Bill MacDonald, Tobias Daley and Liam McCullough gave Wantage Town A an opening-day 3-1 win at newly-promoted Faringdon Town Res. Lee Ruddle was on target for Faringdon.

Benson  Lions were the big winners in Division 3, beating Milton United Res 4-1.

Rob Gray bagged a brace,  Pat Crowley slotted a penalty and Dave Arscott added the fourth, with Pat Walsh netting  for Milton.

Hanney United overcame fellow newly-promoted side Westminster 2-1, courtesy of a James Bishop double snuffing out Simon Joyce’s strike for Westminster.
 

Former Basingstoke & District League side Burghclere marked their North Berks League debut with a 3-1 victory at Stanford in the Vale.
 

Their goals came from Christian Quick, Rob O’Hagan and Ben Kirkham, with Jamie Gregory replying for the home team.
 

Charlie Black, Connor Dawson, Nathan Churton and Kieran Mills all scored for relegated Hagbourne United as they began life in Division 4 with a 4-1 home win over Warborough United.
 

Warborough replied through Marc Grisbrooke.
 

Re-formed Benson AFC won   3-0 at home to new North Berks League side Kennington Athletic thanks to a Drew Farquharson brace and a Zak Gallagher strike.
 

Joe Chalmers and Joe Ledbury both netted for Grove Rangers, but they were held to a 2-2 draw by Turnpike Sports, who registered through Nick Brooks and Steve James.