We had a full list of fixtures on Saturday afternoon, as the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League kicked off with its opening weekend.
Matlock enjoyed the pick of the weekend's results with a 4-0 drubbing of Lancaster City to begin their Premier Division campaign at the top of the ladder. Ex-Notts County, Burton Albion and Alfreton Town striker Shaun Harrad notched a brace for the Gladiators before Kieran Watson and Jamie Jackson rounded off an excellent win at Causeway Lane.
It wasn't such a successful afternoon for Derbyshire's other NPL Premier Division sides, as Mickleover were forced to split the points in a 0-0 draw at Stalybridge Celtic, while Buxton were condemned to an opening day 1-0 defeat at Whitby Town.
In the East Division, Belper also enjoyed a happy start to their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Morpeth Town thanks to Nathan Curtis's 10th minute winner, although less could be said about Gresley who suffered a 2-0 loss to Brighouse Town.
Glossop were also on the end of a similar scoreline, losing 2-0 at home to Atherton Collieries to miss out on the ideal start to their West Division season.
New life under Frank Lampard has been far from fun and games for Derby so far, after the Rams were unable to amend their home hammering by Leeds when they visited the New Den, with two goals inside 20 minutes condemning Derby to defeat at Millwall despite David Nugent's goal later on.
Another spanner was thrown in the works at Chesterfield, meanwhile, as an 89th minute long-range effort from Daniel Whitehead sent the Spireites home empty-handed for the second time running, this time at Salford City. Levellers from Zavon Hines and Marc-Antoine Fortuné cancelled out goals scored by Adam Rooney and Carl Piergianni, but Whitehead's late strike earned maximum points for the Ammies who welcomed their biggest ever away following of 1300 Spireites.
Alfreton were finally able to enjoy a win at home on Saturday thanks to Tom Denton, whose brace scored on either side of Robert Dale's penalty secured victory over Blyth Spartans at the Impact Arena in the National League North. Tom Platt added a third later on to seal the win and earn a much deserved three points for the Reds.
Ilkeston Town continued their impressive start to their Midland Football League Premier Division campaign after winning three out of four, this time beating Walsall Wood in their own back yard thanks to a goal a piece from Kyle Dixon and Alex Marshall. South Normanton remain winless, meanwhile, after a 1-0 loss at Stourport Swifts, and Long Eaton United had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to Highgate United.
Beating Matlock to the weekend's biggest win were Staveley Miners Welfare, who earned their first NCEL Premier Division win of the season in style with a 5-0 thrashing of Harrogate Railway Athletic in their own back yard. Adam Baskerville netted a hat-trick before half-time could even arrive, with goals from Jordan Claxton and Tyla Bell rounding off a sensational display from the Trojans.
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