League scouts targeting Boro's highly rated young striker Malcolm Christie saw him hit the winner to get the club off to a flying start.

The 19-year-old, fresh from his trial period with Tottenham Hotspur, struck in the 19th minute after an opening had been created by Ian Muir.

Christie coolly steered the ball past Hastings' goalkeeper Kessell from close range.

Muir then had a shot cleared off the line as Boro pressed forward but their substitute Anton Thomas twice missed good opportunities to put the issue beyond doubt.

Atherstone's season could not have had a tougher start than to play the highly rated Welsh club on their own territory.

The match went as expected with United defending stoutly but losing to two second half goals.

Lima gave Merthyr the lead after 67 minutes and Griffiths added the second ten minutes from time.

Division newcomers Bloxwich quickly found out that life at this level will be difficult.

They were under constant pressure from the eager Warwick side who should have won by a bigger margin.

Paul Eden fired Racing club in front in the 63rd minute and then it was just a matter of many they would score.

They bombarded the Bloxwich goal but had to be satisfied with one additional goal from Stuart Clarke in the 85th minute.

An entertaining match could have gone either way in the first home game for Solihull at the Valley Stadium in Redditch.

The home men made the better start and almost took a 5th minute lead but Paul O'Brien was in the right place at the right time to clear Joe Dowling's header off the line.

Both sides contributed some good football but the result was settled with a 52nd minute goal when Dowling's cross shot beat United's goalkeeper Robbie Woods and Neil Beagan supplied the finishing touch.

VS made it easy for Stourbridge at Butlin Road, the first goal coming from a goalkeeper error.

Ian Ladkin's poor punch out went straight to Michael Myers who volleyed home in the 38th minute.

Stourbridge, who made several new signings in the close season, rarely moved out of second gear after that and were comfortable winners.