All of the Step leagues started this weekend, how did all the newly promoted teams (29 of them out of the 160 teams) coming up from Step 5 do on this first weekend played in searing heat?
Northern Premier League One East:
Consett - LOST 1-2 away to Cleethorpes Town
Grimsby Borough - LOST 0-4 away to Pontefract Collieries
Long Eaton United - DREW 1-1 away to Bridlington Town
North Shields - DREW 1-1 home to Lincoln United
Northern Premier League One West:
Hanley Town - WON 3-1 away to Ramsbottom United
Macclesfield - WON 3-0 home to Clitheroe
Skelmersdale United - LOST 2-3 home to Trafford
Northern Premier League One Midlands:
Boldmere St Michaels - WON 1-0 away to Loughborough Dynamos
Gresley Rovers - DREW 0-0 home to Cambridge City
Harborough Town - LOST 1-3 home to Halesowen Town
Hinckley LRFC - DREW 1-1 away to Dereham Town
In the Northern Premier, of the 11 new Step 4 teams, only 4 were at home and only 3 got a taste of victory in their 1st match. 4 managed to grab a point with the remaining 4 losing.
Isthmian League One South Central:
Hanworth Villa - DREW 1-1 away to Uxbridge
Southall - WON 2-1 away to Merstham
Walton & Hersham - LOST 3-4 away to Marlow
Isthmian League One North:
Gorleston - LOST 2-3 home to New Salamis
New Salamis - WON 3-2 away to Gorleston
Wroxham - LOST 1-4 away to Witham Town
Isthmian League One South East:
Beckenham Town - WON 3-2 away to Lancing
Chatham Town - LOST 0-1 away to East Grinstead Town
Littlehampton Town - WON 3-2 away to Faversham Town
Sheppey United - DREW 1-1 home to Chichester City
In the Isthmian League, only 2 of the 10 newcomers had a home match, with an even result split of 4 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses recorded.
Southern League One Central:
Hadley - LOST 0-1 away to Highworth Town
Walthamstow - WON 3-0 away to Welwyn Garden City
Southern League One South:
Bashley - WON 2-1 home to Bristol Manor Farm
Bishop's Cleeve - LOST 1-2 away to AFT Totton
Exmouth Town - WON 3-1 away to Melksham Town
Hamworthy United - WON 2-1 away to Bideford
Tavistock - WON 1-0 away to Larkhall Athletic
Westbury United - DREW 0-0 away to Willand Rovers
In the Southern League, only 1 of the 8 newcomers didn't have to travel but they faired the best even so with 5 teams taking all 3 points, another 1 drawing and only 2 losing their first match.
So overall, only 7 out of the 29 new teams were given a home match to start their campaigns off with!! The Fixtures Secretaries ensuring a tougher start for the large majority of the newly promoted teams.
12 teams won, with 7 drawing and the remaining 10 losing with the picture improving the further south you progressed it seems!
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