Jack Storer's fourth minute penalty was enough to give Mickleover Sport a 1-0 victory over Stalybridge Celtic at the Don Amott Arena.
The former Birmingham City Youth forward was a threat throughout in a feisty affair which saw numerous yellow cards handed out to both sides.
Mickleover were awarded a penalty early on. Storer took responsibility and made no mistake to put the home side ahead.
The first half an hour was an end to end affair that lacked a final product as neither side really created anything to write home about.
After the half hour mark the game became somewhat scrappy after a number of fouls were committed by both sides in the battle for midfield.
Storer himself could have seen red for a late challenge on Stalybridge's Nathan Valentine, but the referee saw nothing wrong with the challenge and play resumed.
In the second half it was much of the same, a scrappy midfield battle with chances few and far between.
Stalybridge finally made Nathan Broome work in the 80th minute as he had to dive low to his right to keep out Scott Bakkor's near post drive.
Two minutes later Stalybridge thought they had levelled before the referee corner as Craig Hobson bundled home from a Cameron Moore pull back but the goal was disallowed.
Mickleover managed to hold on for all three points and get their campaign underway in a positive fashion.
Next for Mickleover Sports is an away trip to Witton Albion where John McGrath's men will look to make it two from two.
Micklover Sports: Broome, Berry, Turner, Warren, Mills, Young, Storer, Scott, Chilaka (Cadman 75), Modest, Battcheler.
Attendance: 368
John McGrath Post-Match Thoughts:
Manager John McGrath on picking up the three points at home: "(It's) Fantastic, to start your campaign off with a win, you want to make your home ground a fortress and to pick up three points today is what we set out to achieve at three o'clock this afternoon.
"We've worked hard since the 6th July when we came back for pre-season and you could see instantly that there was a bit of camaraderie and team effort and the atmosphere in the changing room afterwards was superb."
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