Stamford 0 Kidsgrove Athletic 4

Having expected a tough challenge with an opening day trip to Stamford, Kidsgrove eased to victory on the back of an excellent first-half display. Athletic started brightly, forcing an early corner which came to nothing, but took the lead from a second corner on 10 minutes when Ricky Bridge found an unmarked Nick Ward who headed in a debut goal. Under increasing pressure from a confident Kidsgrove, Stamford's defence looked shaky and Dave Walker doubled the advantage on 22 minutes after Aiden Matranga's shot had been blocked and nine minutes later Kidsgrove went further ahead when Ward again got the final touch to another corner. The home team threatened little, although Steve Intihar was forced to tip a speculative effort over on the stroke of half time.

After the break, possession was more evenly spread between the teams, but Kidsgrove were unlucky not to score a fourth when Dave Walker's header from a Danny Smith cross hit the post. Following Stamford's best spell of the game, the next goal did come when a brilliant run and pass from Matranga picked out Liam Shotton who fired in from 20 yards. Athletic then sat back allowing Stamford to test Inithar and defence, but a committed performance saw the clean sheet maintained. Jamie Pointon had a chance to make it five when clean through on goal but shot straight at the keeper. At full time, Kidsgrove could reflect on an impressive performance and well-deserved win.

Team: Intihar, Smith, Dove, Ward, Schwarz, Hall, Matranga (Urwin), Sanders, Walker, Shotton (Pointon), Bridge (McGaw). Unused sub: Harper