BLACK HORSE walked away with victory on their Bromsgrove & District League Premier Division debut after edging past Alcester Town 2-1.
Victory for the former Redditch & South Warwickshire Combination outfit came with a downside as Brendan Hicks picked up a serious knee injury which was dealt with efficiently by the emergency services after a long delay in play.
Brad Birch had given Black Horse the lead despite strong appeals from Town for a handball before Matt Layton pulled the home side level.
However, a calamitous error from Town’s keeper Ryan Young, who let a back pass slip under his foot, allowed Sean Brain to slot home into an empty net to give Black Horse their first ever Bromsgrove League points.
Thomas Brothers sit atop the Premier Division after the first round of fixtures following their 3-1 victory over Belbroughton Athletic thanks to an own goal and strikes from Stuart Hall and Paul Whitehead.
Meanwhile, the other game of the weekend saw Pilkington Sunday let a two-goal lead slip to share the spoils with Meadow Park in a 2-2 draw.
Oak Tree Sporting lead the way in Division One following their comfortable 5-2 victory away at Quinton Athletic thanks to braces from Jack Steele and Rory Milbourne and one from Richard Hall.
Luke Crockett and Jake Chinn netted for Athletic.
Bromsgrove League debutants Red Lion also won by a similar scoreline over Wychbold RBL courtesy of two goals from Anthony McNally and one apiece from Daniel Bearcroft, Peter Treadgold and Kingsley Smith.
Charlie Driscoll and Ciaran Sheehan replied for RBL.
A ten-goal thriller at South Bromsgrove High School’s 3G pitch saw Sporting Rednal and FC Highgate United ahre the spoils in a 5-5 draw.
Shaun May (2), Dan Wilkes (2) and Lloyd Newman got on the scoresheet for Rednal; Oli Pugh (2), Brad Murrihy, Kyle Morrison and Loz Martin for United.
Elsewhere, Rubery drew 2-2 with Bromsgrove Athletico.
AFC Northfield opened up their Division Two campaign with a 4-2 victory over Spa Athletic.
Goals from Ben Dugmore (2), Sam Chilton and Keith Rostill secured the win for Northfield who top the table.
Studley Lions sit in second following their 4-2 victory at Hizza United thanks to a brace from Roland Rignall, a penalty from Habib Buaben and strike from Nick Briggs.
Sporting Club Redditch also enjoyed opening day success as they claimed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Hewell.
Dan Sill and Dan Hodgetts netted the winning goals.
The other game in the division saw Callowbrook Swifts Green and Awkies Allstars share the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Luke Wyatt had given Swifts the lead before Jason Gibbons levelled late on.
Chaddesley Corbett Reserves claimed top spot in Division Three after cruising to a 6-0 victory at Laburnum courtesy of goals from Gary Moriaty (2), Forde Mackenzie, Craig Sabel, Sam Gray and Philip Bower.
Arrow Valley sit in second after strolling to a 5-1 victory at home over Rubery Legends thanks to Robert Voices double and singles from Reece Miles, Jacob King and Nick Rumbold.
Jacob Booton netted a consolation for Legends.
Cofton Old Boys’ first appearance in the Bromsgrove League ended in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Stoke Prior.
Karl Parkinson and Joel Francis netted for Old Boys; Sam Bunn, Andy Dawson and Luke Parker for Prior.
Elsewhere, Meadow Park Youth enjoyed a 3-1 victory over Millfield Rovers Reserves courtesy of strikes from James Clayton, Michael Hegarty and Oliver Rainsford.
Ryan Wood bagged Rovers’ only goal of the game.
