St Neots Town Football Club marked their return to the United Counties League with an opening day home league victory for the first time since 2014.

Notoriously slow starters of late St Neots delighted the crowd with a solid if unspectacular start with three goals and a confident defensive performance over Bugbrooke St Michaels.

The Hunts Post: St Neots delighted the crowd with an opening day victory.St Neots delighted the crowd with an opening day victory. (Image: David Richardson/Rich In Video)

With a completely new line-up of players running out for the home side, new manager Cameron Mawer was delighted with the start.

Both sides began cautiously testing out the other, but St Neots always looked in control in the first half.

The Hunts Post: St Neots Town Football Club v Bugbrooke St Michaels.St Neots Town Football Club v Bugbrooke St Michaels. (Image: David Richardson/Rich In Video)

St Neots eventually went ahead after 15 minutes when the pacey Harvey Williams saw his cross not cleared, and Magloire Myembe pounced to score from close range.

The goal settled any early St Neots nerves, and they built on their foundation as the lively Williams sent an angled shot to the wrong side of the far post after neat work by Dean Dummett.

The Hunts Post: None of the St Neots starting team featured for the side during the last league campaign. None of the St Neots starting team featured for the side during the last league campaign. (Image: David Richardson/Rich In Video)

Five minutes before the break St Neots doubled their lead as Williams was again the architect with a cross that picked out James Hatch for a crisp finish.

Substitute Tommy Reynolds did well to get back to clear off the line after goalkeeper Seb Stacey had fumbled a shot to ensure that St Neots went to the break with their two goals advantage.

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After the break, Bugbrooke enjoyed a brief spell when they looked capable of getting back into the match, but they never really bothered the home defence despite enjoying a better share of possession.

The Hunts Post: Josh Brown slotted home a second-half penalty for the home side.Josh Brown slotted home a second-half penalty for the home side. (Image: David Richardson/Rich In Video)

As the second half wore on, St Neots looked more and more confident against the tiring visiting side, and four minutes before the end of normal time, Williams was upended in the penalty area, and the reliable Josh Brown tucked away the penalty to confirm the first-day victory ahead of sterner tests to come.