A round up of Saturday`s opening fixtures in the Blue Square Bet Premier.....
Blue Square Bet Premier title-favourites Luton Town secured a narrow opening day victory against Altrincham at Kenilworth Road.
A late Matthew Barnes-Homer strike ensured victory for the Hatters after debutant Zdenek Kroca had converted the home side's early pressure when he headed the opening goal on 21 minutes from close range from a Keith Keane corner.
Damian Reeves also scored on his debut, hitting back for Altrincham with a powerful header after 69 minutes.
Keeper Stuart Coburn's punch then fell to Barnes-Homer who hit the winner from the edge of the box.
Mark Cooper's reign as Darlington boss started with a hard-fought 1-0 win over new boys Newport County.
Liam Hatch's 4th minute effort secured victory for Quakers, who were relegated from League Two last season.
The England `C `striker's header from Paul Arnison's free kick was the difference.
County dominated in the second half and home keeper Sam Russell made a string of saves to deny Charlie Henry, Jamie Collins and Craig Reid.
Grimsby Town, who came down with Darlington, also began their life in the Conference with a narrow victory over fancied Crawley Town at the Broadfield Stadium.
Lee Peacock netted the only goal for the Mariners after 38 minutes.
However, 2 minutes earlier Crawley keeper Michel Kuipers received his marching orders for a deliberate handball and Grimsby made their numerical advantage count.
It was a mixed day for the other newcomers. Hayes & Yeading United striker Ben Wright scored twice on his debut to deny newly-promoted Bath City at Church Road.
Bath's Lewis Hogg came closest to scoring in a goalless first half when his 30-yard free kick struck the post.
The hosts seized the initiative 2 minutes after the break as Ahmed Deen's work on the left flank found Wright who netted.
He doubled his tally with 7 minutes left with a fine free kick before Gethin Jones hit a stunning 30-yard consolation goal for the visitors in injury-time.
Michael Corcoran headed home a stoppage-time equaliser as Rushden & Diamonds rescued an opening-day point at Nene Park against another promoted side, Fleetwood Town.
Craig Farrell had a penalty pushed over at the end of the first half following Paul Linwood's trip on Alan Power but that was Diamonds' only attempt on target until Corcoran levelled.
Last season's Conference North play-off winners got the opener on 23 minutes when Magno Vieira fired past Dale Roberts into the bottom corner.
Nathan Pond nodded wide early in the second half and Farrell fired into the side netting with a rare chance for Diamonds.
Farrell again failed to test keeper Danny Hurst with a 35-yard free kick and there seemed no way back in a disappointing display until Corcoran headed in from a corner.
AFC Wimbledon recovered from a penalty miss to secure victory over the other promotees, Southport at Haig Avenue.
The Dons were awarded a penalty before half time when Matty McGinn was fouled by Samuel Hatton, but Jon Main's effort was saved by keeper Tony McMillan.
But the miss did not matter as Christian Jolley slotted in the winner on 72 minutes.
Matty McNeil had the hosts' best chance but shot weakly at keeper Seb Brown, while the Dons had Lee Minshull sent-off late on for a foul on Alan Moogan.
Andy Morrell marked his return to Wrexham after a seven-year absence by firing them to an opening day victory over Cambridge United at the Racecourse Ground.
Morrell grabbed the only goal in the 25th minute, sending a left-footed effort home after a mistake by David Partridge.
He could have had two others, first turning Andy Mangan's pass just wide with the help of a deflection.
Cambridge rallied hitting the post and had a chance cleared off the line.
Zac Attwood bagged a brace as Cambridge`s close neighbours Histon came from behind to defeat Barrow at the Glassworld Stadium.
Histon's Remy Clerima managed to steer a free kick into his own net but the hosts equalised when Romone McCrae headed in from Mark Boyd's free kick.
Attwood grabbed his first, finishing into the bottom corner and the second came when he slotted home from a Danny Mills through-ball.
Histon finished with ten-men as Lee Wootton was shown a straight red for violent conduct with 5 minutes left.
Tamworth overcame Eastbourne Borough 4-2 at The Lamb.
Kyle Perry and Tom Marshall fired the hosts into a two-goal lead with less than 20 minutes played.
Daniel Bradley added a third on the half-hour mark. Boro looked set to be on the end of a heavy defeat, but new boy Richard Pacquette pulled a goal back in the 49th minute.
But Alex Rodman restored Tamworth's three-goal cushion on 67 minutes, before Gary Elphick reduced the deficit with 7 minutes left on the clock.
John Dempster was sent-off as Kettering Town kicked off the season with a goalless draw at the International Staium against Gateshead.
The first half developed into a tactical battle with Kettering being happy to let Gateshead past the ball in front of their solid two banks of four. But the Poppies looked dangerous on the break and probably had the better chances in the opening period.
Iyseden Christie looked to have got in on goal on at least three occasions but each time a poor touch and the ball running away from him proved costly.
But the best chance of the half fell to James Dance, who forced Tim Deasy into a good save at his near post after Taylor had done brilliantly to skip past Craig Baxter before crossing to the far post.
Martin Brittain sent a free kick into the side-netting early in the second half while Dance's finishing let him down when he dragged an effort wide.
New Poppies` player-coach Paul Furlong was denied by an excellent last-ditch challenge by Ben Clark after exchanging passes with Christie but chances at either end were sparse.
The Poppies' cause wasn't helped for the final 7 minutes when Dempster saw red for his second bookable offence after a cynical trip on Craig Nelthorpe.
But they held on with ease to seal their first point of the season.
Kidderminster Harriers managed to edge hosts York City 2-1 at the KitKat Crescent.
Callum Gittings fired Harriers in front in the 10th minute - a lead which lasted until Michael Rankine was awarded a penalty following a foul by Tom Shaw with 4 minutes of the match remaining.
The substitute converted his spot-kick and it looked like the Minstermen had secured a share of the spoils. But Harriers had a penalty of their own just moments later when Duane Courtney brought down Chris McPhee.
Shaw went from zero to hero as he stuck his spot-kick and ensured the visitors walked away with all three points.
Two goals from Paul Connor (pictured) on his debut helped Mansfield Town to an opening day victory over Forest Green Rovers at Field Mill.
The summer signing was in red-hot form in pre-season, bagging five goals in four matches since he joined the club in July.
The former Rochdale and Lincoln man netted twice in the second half - either side of a well-taken strike by Gary Mills.
The only disappointment for the hosts was the goal they conceded from a set piece when Gavin Caines scored for Forest Green, which briefly saw the visitors draw back level at 1-1.
