GREAT Harwood Rovers kicked off their first full season at their new home with a hard-fought victory over Pendle Forest White.

And if this match is anything to go by, then Lyndon House may just turn out to be something of a lucky omen.

For Harwood will know they were fortunate to pick up all three points in a match where a draw would have been the fair outcome.

Forest started the brighter of the two sides and Michel Pepper clipped the crossbar with a dangerous corner while Thomas Comer and Max Peart looked lively up front.

Rovers had a let out when Pepper's flick header was spilled by keeper Matthew Bunn but Peart fired in to the side netting from close range.

But Harwood slowly got themselves in to the game and Oliver Cruse carved out their first real chance with a excellent through ball to Kyle Parker but Zac Bywater slid in with a great challenge just as the striker was about to shoot.

George Ramsbottom and Parker linked up well down the left with Parker flashing one shot wide and had another blocked.

But just before the break, the pair combined again with Parker sliding the ball to the lively Cruse who beat Thomas Holding in the Forest goal with a rising shot.

After the break, Forest threw on Dixon Charlton who almost made an immediate impact when he latched on to a ball from Peart and his sweetly struck shot hit the outside of the post.

Good play by Pepper and Harrison Yerkess set up Charlon again but his shot just rolled wide.

Bunn did well to save from Aidan McVay then Peart tried his luck from distance.

So it was no surprise that Forest drew level when Pepper released Thomas Comer down the left and his low cross was poked home by Charlton from close range.

Harwood almost regained the lead straight from kick off when Ramsbottom's mazy run ended with Cruse bringing the best out of Holding.

With both sides pushing for the winner, chances became more frequent although there was a touch of fortune about Harwood's winner.

After winning a corner, Ramsbottom drilled the ball in low and hard and it took an unfortunate deflection of a Forest player on the near post and ended up in the back of the net.

Harwood had chances to extend their lead towards the end but McVay timed his tackle to perfection to deny Jack Woodcock while Nightingale was foiled by Holding.

It was a bright end to the game for Harwood and an encouraging start to life at their new home.