A BELOW strength Bacup and Rossendale Borough suffered a dismal start to the new North West Counties League Premier Division season as they were beaten 6-0 at home by Glossop North End.

The hosts were only a goal down at the interval with David Young finding the net midway through the first half.

But the visitors added a second through Edward Moran four minutes after the interval and further goals from Aaron Moxam, Samuel Hind, Thomas Bailey and Benjamin Richardson took the game away from Brent Peters’ side.

Borough were missing several regulars owing to holiday and work commitments.

Barnoldswick Town also suffered an opening day defeat as they fell 4-2 at home to West Didsbury and Chorlton.

An early Scott Mason strike gave the visitors the lead but Barlick levelled through James Gill on 36 minutes.

West Didsbury and Chorlton were back in front three minutes later when Richard Gleave converted from the spot but Joel Melia capped a frantic few minutes by equalising for a second time when he struck just 60 seconds later.

Gleave’s second early in the second half gave West Didsbury and Chorlton the lead for the third time and they were not to be pegged back again as Jerome Bryson sealed the points 15 minutes from time.

Premier division new boys Nelson enjoyed an encouraging start to life in the top-flight with a 1-1 home draw with Runcorn Town.

The Admirals opened the scoring from the spot on 19 minutes thanks to striker Peter Wright and they looked as if they would take all three points and send the majority of the 145-strong crowd home happy.

But the visitors had other ideas and levelled seven minutes from time thanks to Sean Breen.