New-look Whitehawk had two players sent off but still opened the new season with 2-1 win at Three Bridges.

Hawks are fancied as the biggest challengers to reigning champions Eastbourne United, who had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to promoted Crawley Down.

Bridges got a dream start when Dean Wright put them ahead within 20 seconds but Matt Geard levelled before half-time and Ryan McBride hit the winner early in the second half.

McBride was then sent off for a bad tackle, followed by substitute Justin Pawsey for a similar offence.

Joint-boss George Parris said: “They both looked worse than they were but maybe the referee had no choice.

“It’s a great result with nine men because Three Bridges is a tough place to go.”

Eastbourne United boss Brian Dennis was not a happy man after his side’s opening day draw with Crawley Down.

Lee Walsah fired the champions ahead after 12 minutes from a Danny Andrews pass but summer signing Tony Reid levelled nine minutes from time.

Dennis said: “We were awful. We didn’t use the ball intelligently and all round it was a poor performance.

“We have got to pick ourselves up for Tuesday because we will be facing another enthusiastic side. Everybody wants to beat us because we are champions.”

Chichester started the season with a seven-goal show against East Grinstead and boss Adie Girdler declared: “We’ve got a point to prove.”

Chi were due to start the campaign on minus ten points after fielding Calum Cutler when he was ineligible last season before the penalty was rescinded after they appealed to the FA.

Cutler was on the bench on Saturday and watched Ben Vassallo sink the Wasps with five goals, four of them in the first half. Joe Briggs and Jamie Searle completed the rout with Marc Pelling getting Grinstead’s consolation.

Girdler said: “We were raring to go and feel we have a point to prove after what happened last season. To get seven goals in your first game is a fantastic start although to be fair to East Grinstead they were missing a few players.”

Grinstead boss Steve Johnson did not mince his words. He said: “We had seven out who would have started but I could have got 11 players from the park across the road to do better than that.

“It is unacceptable and the players know that.”

Ryan Bradley made a dream debut for Shoreham after his move from Whitehawk with a hat-trick in their 4-1 win at Hailsham.

Owen Callaghan was also on target with Scott McDonald getting the reply.

Shoreham boss Mark Burt said: “We brought Ryan here to score goals and he took his hat-trick really well, especially his third which rounded off a good four-man move.”

Another newcomer was Wick’s hero in the 2-1 home success over Hassocks.

Striker George Gaskin, signed from Littlehampton, came off the bench to score twice but also missed a penalty. Spencer Slaughter got Hassocks’ reply.

Promoted Peacehaven salvaged a point with Roy Pook hitting an 83rd-minute equaliser at home to much-changed Lingfield, who took the lead through Gareth Broome.

Darren Lok put Ringmer in front on his debut at Redhill but Chris Hubbard ensured new boss Dean Forbes got a point in his first game in charge with a 90th-minute equaliser for Redhill.

Summer signing Gerard Joseph scored twice as Selsey beat St Francis Rangers 4-1. Fellow new boy Rob Wimble and Ross Woolf also netted as the hosts came from behind.

Ryan Cox scored twice as Pagham won 2-1 at home to relegated Crowborough, for whom Tom Boddy hit a late consolation.

Division two: East Preston 0,Sidley United 3 (Agutter 30, Pogue 36, Darby 45); Loxwood 0, Rye United 3 (McArthur 35, D.Woodley 85, 89); Oakwood 1 (Williams 26), Littlehampton 0; Southwick 3 (Wotherspoon 7, 44, Walton 86), Rustington 2 (Duffy 11, Bennett 20); Steyning Town 0, Little Common 2 (MacDonald 4, Fisher 35); Storrington 3 (Ayres 37, 83, Harding 72), Seaford 2 (Mitchell 77, Kneller 89); Wealden 1 (Gearing 65), Clymping 1 (Barnard 48); Westfield 1 (Parsons 18), Lancing 0; Worthing United 4 (Green 26, Annis 33, 48, Packer 84), Midhurst and Easebourne 0.