ON THE opening weekend of the SDFL season and just 98 days since the last ball was kicked in the 25/26 season, my pick for game of the day did not disappoint, writes Alastair Muirden.

A Division Two clash between Kingskerswell and new boys Tavistock 2nds, who join the league with an impressive CV, was played in front of a decent crowd.

It was end-to-end and fairly even for the first 30 mins until the visitors took the lead when a speculative cross to the far post by Daniel Udo evaded Jack Gatting in the Kerswell goal to loop under the bar.

The goal shook Kerswell to up their game and Shane Shobrook was causing problems whenever he had the ball but Ewan Lock in the Tavy goal was having a good afternoon. The crossbar saved him on one occasion but most were down to good goalkeeping.

Half time came in good time for the visitors but it was the Kerswell bench that were the loudest and within a minute of the restart, the first Kerswell attack of the second half saw the referee point to the spot for a trip on a Kerswell player and it was left for Kyle Doughty to step up to pull the home team level.

Tavistock were now on the back foot and Kerswell looked the most likely to score again but Tavy were playing well and were winning all of the second balls in defence.

15 minutes, from time Kerswell won a corner that was floated into the six yard box for Ashley Grimes to rise above the young defenders to fire a bullet header into the goal. Tavistock continued to push forward in the final 15 minutes in search of an equaliser but the experienced Kerswell players were able to hold them off to record their first win of the new season.

Elsewhere in Tavistock’s division, there were victories for Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds, Galmpton United and Ivybridge Town 2nds.

Meanwhile, there were some impressive results in the Premier Division and none more so than at Osborne Park, where Newton Abbot 66 once again got their season off to a winning start.

They dispatched Plymouth-based Elburton Villa 2nds by three goals to one thanks to strikes by Luke Snell, Jake Cockram and summer signing Jakeb Haywood Cann.

Also prevailing in the top-flight were East Allington United, Ilsington Villa and Lakeside Athletic.

Watcombe Wanderers made it two wins from two in Division One and if you had told Buckland Athletic on Thursday that both of their teams would score 25 goals between them, they would not have believed you.

First up, the reformed 3rd XI walloped Paignton Villa 3rd XI by 13 goals to nil on Friday night in Division Four and then Homers Heath was treated to another goal-fest the following day.

The reserves hosted Brixham Town in Division One and romped home to a 12-2 victory.

Horrabridge Rangers were at home against Newton Abbot 66 2nds and were defeated 3-1 in Division Three, Hayden Simpson scoring for Rangers at Fillace Park.

Bere Alston 2nds may not be the early leaders in Division Four due to Buckland’s brilliance but what better way to start than by winning 6-1 on the road, overcoming Lakeside Athletic 2nds.

Lastly, Tamerton Foliot enjoyed a 4-0 victory over Tavistock 3rds in a battle of the new boys in Division Four.