New manager Mark Garwood enjoyed a terrific start to his Eaton Socon reign on the opening night of the new Cambridgeshire County League season.

Ryan Whittingham grabbed the only goal as the local side triumphed at last season’s runners-up Great Shelford in the Kershaw Premier Division last Tuesday.

He struck in the seventh minute of the second half to secure victory as a much-changed Socon side got off to a fine start.

“It was a very good way to begin the season,” said Garwood. “Great Shelford are a big and physical side, but we stuck to our game plan and Ryan got the important goal.

“It was a superb all-round performance from the team.”

But there was nothing to cheer for the other local sides in action. Brampton were thumped 4-0 at Cambridge City Development, Hemingfords were pipped 2-1 by newly-promoted Bar Hill and newly-formed Eynesbury Rovers Reserves were crushed 6-2 by Cambridge University Press. Lee Bassett and Dean Parratt hit the goals for the Rovers second string who are managed by ex-Eaton Socon chief Mark Spavins.

League newcomers St Neots Reserves also endured a miserable start when beaten 6-0 by Fulbourn Institute in their Wednesday opener.

Huntingdon United were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat in their first Kershaw Senior A Division outing.

Lee Milton’s side, title-winners in each of the last two seasons during a rapid rise, were beaten 7-4 at Gamlingay United.

St Ives Rangers enjoyed a fine start to Kershaw Senior B Division life with a 4-1 win Cambridge University Press Reserves.

Jack Haycock struck twice with Lloyd Schwier and Jackson Bonny also on target for last season’s Division 1B champions.

Two other local teams couldn’t manage a goal between them at that level as AFC Barley Mow and Bluntisham Rangers battled out a 0-0 deadlock.

Needingworth led March Town Reserves 2-0 when that clash was abandoned after 80 minutes following a head injury to a visiting player.