A verdant green pitch, made slicker through an intense downpour just before kick-off, greeted Ramsbottom United and visitors Trafford FC at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Significant changes over the summer for the Rams showcased many new faces as Rob Henry took over at the helm.
One of them, Christian Mukoko, left the pitch with a shoulder injury following an awkward fall only a couple of minutes in.
Trafford, playing in yellow, started brightly and with plenty of endeavour as both sides played attractive passing football, entertaining the healthy crowd.
In the 12th minute, Owen Collinge broke from the Rams defence to race down the right touchline before delivering a low cross into the box.
It appeared to have been covered by the Trafford defenders but, unfortunately for them, was steered past keeper Beard for an own goal to the dismay of a team topping the table after the initial round of games.
Trafford are many people's favourites with good reason and soon recovered their poise in creating a series of probing moves to test the Rams’ defence.
It looked as though they had equalised when a fierce drive from inside the box was destined for the net before a remarkable sprint saw captain Macaulay Wilson clear the ball off the goal line with a flying martial arts style kick - before instinctively sticking a leg up to deflect the follow-up effort to safety.
Wilson’s remarkable clearance was treated like a goal as the home crowd roared on, with his endeavour and confidence flooding through the team.
Seconds later Rams advanced before a low pass found Gareth Hill in space on the edge of the box.
He calmly cut inside before firing a low shot inside the near post to put the Rams two up and further ramp up the home support, creating a crackling atmosphere.
Shell-shocked, Trafford responded once more but were marshalled by the excellent Wilson and the returning Oscar Radcliffe.
Rams worked hard to keep their shape as the visitors were reduced to ineffective long-range efforts.
On twenty-two minutes the home side were awarded a free kick about thirty yards out.
Everyone waited as the experienced Jack Sowerby shaped to cross the ball but instead, and with minimal back lift, fired in a dipping shot which deceived Beard to find the bottom corner of the net and an eruption of delight from the Ultras massed behind.
With only a quarter of the game gone, Rams had surely done enough to win the game.
How would they respond? But in truth, Trafford looked rattled and rarely troubled the home side as half-time arrived.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the healthy lead, the second half was far less fluid and turned into an exercise in game management.
The action became scrappy and littered with offside decisions.
The nearest Trafford conjured was a guided header from a corner which landed on the wrong side of the post for them.
For the home side, Radcliffe produced a storming run from defence and appeared to be felled, with a loud shout for a penalty waved away by referee Oldroyd.
In the closing minutes, the Ultras serenaded the team with entertaining melodies as the match played out to finish three nil with a comfortable home victory against a team accepting their fate long before the final whistle.
So, a comfortable win and a clean sheet represent a great home start for Rob Henry's Ramsbottom United and saw the team, and management, acclaimed with gusto as they ran towards the supporters at the end.
On tonight’s showing, they can look forward to the new season with considerable confidence.
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