FORMER Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion attacker Lee Ashcroft had to settle for a point as he began his first full season in charge of Longridge Town.

Longridge had made a dream start to their Premier League campaign when hot-shot Jonty McDonald had fired them in front in the seventh minute.

But Town let their lead slip in the second half, with Chris Wraighte rescuing a precious point for Kendal outfit Crooklands Casuals.

But it was a day to forget for Burnley United, crushed 5-3 by Blackpool Wren Rovers.

Michael Clark and Rick Sear netted twice to put Burnley firmly on the back foot, although James Blackburn reduced the deficit shortly afterwards.

But Gary Pett and Danny Morris saw Wren double their advantage again before half-time.

Oliver Wood and Peter Crossley both found the net for Burnley in the second half, but by then it was too late to rescue their side from a heavy opening day defeat.

The Premier Division will be playing with 15 teams this term following the resignation of Norcross and Warbreck, but Euxton Villa set their season alight with a 7-1 thrashing of newly promoted Hesketh Bank.

Jordan Horner helped himself to a hat trick while Andrew Byron, Daniel Morris, Rick Wilson and Danny Marland also netted in a one sided contest.

Kevin Cox scored Hesketh’s consolation goal.

Euxton’s neighbours Charnock Richard also made a winning start, edging past Fleetwood Hesketh 1-0 courtesy of David Burrows’ strike on the hour.

There was a thriller at Watering Pool Lane where Bradley Carsley’s late, late show rescued a point for Lostock St Gerards against a spirited Garstang side.

Gary Fawcett had fired Garstang ahead in the eighth minute, before Mark Buchan levelled it just before half time.

And the points looked like they would be heading back up the A6 when Matthew Poole struck for the visitors. But Carsley rescued Lostock with an opportunist strike two minutes from time.

Coppull United went down 2-1 at Slye with Hest, with Danny Fishwick on the mark for the visitors.

Eagley’s new boss Alex Harvie made a dream start to his new tenure, engineering a 3-0 win at Thornton Cleveleys with Simon Wailey (2) and Neil Bebbington on the mark.

In Division One, Mill Hill St Peters marked an impressive start to their new campaign, beating Askam United 3-2 thanks to goals from Carl Fletcher, Jordan Freeman and Luke Gornall.

But it proved a miserable day for Hurst Green, beaten 2-0 at Wyre Villa with Jordan Keighley and Zac Crossley on the mark for the Fylde men.

Turton roared to a 5-2 win against Bolton County, with Tom Morgan smashing a hat trick.

Tony Hesketh’s Fulwood Amateurs secured a 2-0 success at GSK Ulverston Rangers while Lytham Town’s Billy Dollin topped the league’s scoring chart on the first day of term, netting four times in a 5-3 win against Dalton United.

Haslingden St Mary’s crashed 5-2 at Leyland United in Division Two, but Todmorden Borough made an encouraging start, defeating Barrow Wanderers 2-0 with Dean Farry and Chris Kay on target.

In Division One Reserves, Haslingden St Mary’s lost 4-1 to Euxton Villa, while Hurst Green thrashed Leyland United 6-2.

Mill Hill St Peters crushed Croston Sports Reserves 5-2, while Burnley United overwhelmed Stoneclough 6-1.