THE opening day of the season was marred by Chris Haddock, the Junction FC keeper, suffering a fractured leg in their game at Market Place. Everybody in the Combination wishes Chris well and a speedy recovery.

In the Star Premiership, Penlake head the scoring table with an 8-1 demolition job on Sidac Social, Frank Jeffers grabbing the opening four goals, others coming via Anthony Winrow, James Jones, Chris Marsh and Matty Dunn.

Shoe FC also got off the mark with a 2-0 away win at Eccleston United. Windle Labour (Neil Connolly 2, Anthony Joundrell) grabbed the points at Rainford North End, winning 3-1. New side DJ Motors, however, had to battle all the way to win 3-2 at last year's champions Billinge for whom, Robbie Stroud and Gary Farrell hit the target. In Division One Neil Wright and Andy Stubbs goals gave Jaxx Bar a hard 2-1 home win over York. Globe did well to earn a 2-2 away draw at Nogs Head for whom Peter Jackson and John Ody found the net. The unfortunate match at Parr Stocks saw Market Place (Dave Smith, Dave Morgan, Peter Yates plus an own goal) beat Junction 4-1.

In Division Two, Peter Wilde and Mark Maylor scored for Windledon, but they went down at home to Lingholme for whom, Brian Kenyon (4), Steve Quinn and Mark Hamilton goals gave them a 6-2 win. Bowling Green's 7-4 win at Ramford Rangers was the result of an excellent game, with both sides giving great performances.

Secretary Robbie Deakin has returned from holiday - all Combination correspondence should be directed to him and not Chairman Eric Bond, who is responsible for registration and transfers. If the Secretary cannot be reached by phone, the assistant Secretary John Goodwin should be contacted.

Results: Saturday, August 24

Star Premier Division: Penlake 8 Sidac 1, Eccleston 0 Shoe 2, Billinge 2 DJ Motors 3, Rainford NE 1 Windle Lab 3, Old Congs 2 The Stars 2.

Division One: Jaxx Bar 2 York 1, Nogs Head 2 Globe 2, Market Place 4 Junction 1.

Division Two: Windle 2 Lingholme 6, Ramford R 4 Bowling Green 7, Bull and Dog 1 Rainford North End Res 1, Nine Arches 2 Billinge Colts 3, Windle Labour Res 2 Wheatsheaf 2, Clock Face Miners Res 9 Fingerpost 3, Smithy Manor 4 Grove U 4.

Fixtures: Saturday, August 31

Star Premier Division: Penlake v Old Congs (K Birch), Eccleston v Rainford N E (G O'Brien), Shoe v Billinge (R Deakin), Clock Face v The Stars (N Hanmer), Sidac Soc v DJ Motors (W Carlton), Grosvenor Park v Windle Lab (B Dixon).

Division One: Nogs Head v Prescot L (R McClintock), Carborundum v East Sutton Lab (P Russell), Moss Bank v Earlestown (S Jones), Grove v Pilkington (C Tunstall), York v Junction (D Deluce).

Division Two: Ramford R v Smithy Manor (P Forrest), Bull and Dog v Windledon (D Harding), Nine Arches v Clock Face Res (D Forber), Billinge Colts v Windle Labour Res (G Strange), Rainford North End Reserves v Grove United (I Woodward), Bowling Green v Wheatsheaf (D Pilkington), Lingholme v Fingerpost (M Cammack).

Tuesday, September 3: Star Premier Division: Billinge v Eccleston (G Strange), The Stars v Shoe (R McClintock), DJ Motors v Clock Face (D Forber), Old Congs v Grosvenor Park (D Harding), Sidac Social v Windle Labour (P Russell).

Division One: Jaxx Bar v Nogs Head (I Woodward), Earlestown v Carborundum (A Burrows), Pilkington v Moss Bank (B Teebay), Prescot Leisure v York (M Graham), Junction v Grove (D Pilkington).

Division Two: Windledon v Ramford Rangers (W Carlton), Clock Face Res v Bull and Dog (D Deluce), Windle Labour Res v Nine Arches (K Birch), Grove U v Billinge Colts (P Shields), Wheatsheaf v Ramford Res (R Deakin), Fingerpost v Bowling Green (B Dixon), Smithy Manor v Lingholme (N Hanmer).