League campaign kicks off in style

With the cup group stages finished it was time to get league business underway and defending champions Annan Town hosted Moffat Thistle in what was sure to be a ding dong match and it certainly didn't disappoint as Annan took the lead through top goalscorer Shaun Bell but Moffat roared back and an equaliser from Roddy Carlyle brought the game to life, with Julian Mills smashing home to earn three points for the visitors. Last seasons runners up Hole in the Wa started with a win but were made to work for it by Queens Bar. The Wa took until 37 minutes to score when Sean Peat was on hand to fire home, and it took until 72 minutes to get some breathing space with Scott Gordon scoring. Queens did set up a tense finish as Darren Monteith scored with ten to play but a few minutes later Scott Gordon grabbed his second to wrap up the points. In a day of close matches Nithside were the big winners as a Michael McGhie hat trick as well as strikes from Mark McGhie and Thomas Nicholson were enough to take them top of the table despite Ian Bell and David Thompson scoring for Kelloholm. Palmerston Colts also started with a win as Andy McNair and Andy Gilston cancelled out a Shaun Kirk effort for Morton Youth. Scaur also continued their fine start with a hard earned win over Normandy Star. A Chris Cloy penalty and a counter from Ross Lockhart were enough as Bobby Green scored for Star. The First Division was more fertile ground for the goalscorers, with Rees Brown grabbing four for Loreburn against Park Thistle, and Lee Taylor also pitching in with a hat trick and Andrew Drysdale on target, with Robbie Simpson on target for Park as well as Dougie Rae with a brace. Dumfries Athletic came from two nil down at Black Bull with five goals from Liam Watson and efforts from Kyle McQueen and Lewis Lamb seeing them to a comfortable win after Dean Gallimore, MacAuley Smith and Jon Muir had scored for Rovers. Five Arches Bombers also started with a win over FC Annan, with Duncan Smith and Chris Ross putting them in front and Darren Ross saving a penalty before Annan countered through Mark Leesing Jnr. Neil Sturrock restored the two goal cushion but John Campbell hit a brace to level until David Bradbury earned Bombers three points with virtually the last kick of the game. The closes match of the day came as Ruthwell and Summerhill played out a draw. A Jamie Kimm penalty put Summerhill in front put Michael Young earned a share of the spoils in the second half, though a last minute penalty miss cost them the three points.