BILLY Nicholson scored four goals as Ellesmere started their Pioneer League campaign with a 9-0 win over Farmers Arms.

Halliwell, Gray and Whitley were also among the Ellesmere scorers.

The goals were shared between Spread Eagle and Daisy Hill, who drew 5-5. Phil Roberts scored two for Spread Eagle, but also missed a penalty.

Daisy Hill's five goals included a Holt hat-trick.

Phil Hornby hit three in Astley Miners' 4-2 win over Hulton Lane, with John Powell netting the other.

Party People had a 7-4 victory over King William, with goals from Haigh, Roscoe, Fashou, and two each from Helm and Willitt.

Farnworth SC picked up a 2-0 away victory against Church, with goals from Craig and French.

In Division One, Queen Anne won 9-1 at Hulton Lane, with goals from Sutcliffe, Davies, two each from Nightingale and Ross, and a hat-trick from Markland.

North Bolton went 2-0 down against Astley Bridge, but hit back for a 5-2 victory, while a hat-trick from Pender inspired Greyhound to a 3-2 win at Hall i'th' Wood.

Horwich St Mary's also came back from two down against Sharples, with goals from Rock, Roberts, and a hat-trick from Ramsden.

Greyhound had a 3-2 away victory over Hall i'th' Wood, thanks to a hat-trick from Pender.

Spread Eagle and Daisy Hill had to settle for a point each after a 10 goal thriller. Richardson, Dobson and Batman all got one each. Phil Roberts scored two, but missed on out on a hat-trck when he missed a 70th minute penalty for Spread Eagle. Shinks and a Holt hat-trick replied for Daisy Hill.

Astley Miners went 4-0 up against Hulton Lane with a hat-trick from Phil Hornby and one from John Powell. Hulton Lane pulled two goals back, but Miners held on for a 4-2 victory.

Party People had a 7-4 victory over King William, with goals from Haigh, Roscoe, Fashou, and two each from Helm and Willitt.

Farnworth SC picked up a 2-0 away victory against Church, with goals from Craig and French.

In Division One, Queen Anne won 9-1 at Hulton Lane, with goals from Sutcliffe, Davies, two each from Nightingale and Ross, and a hat-trick from Markland.

North Bolton went 2-0 down against Astley Bridge Cons, but hit back in the second half for a 5-2 victory.

Horwich St Mary's also came back from two down against Sharples, with goals from Rock, Roberts, and a hat-trick from Ramsden.

Greyhound had a 3-2 away victory over Hall i'th' Wood, thanks to a hat-trick from Pender.

Premier Division

ELLESMERE ...9 FARMERS ARMS ...0

ASTLEY MINERS ...4 HULTON LANE ...2

SPREAD EAGLE ...5 DAISY HILL ...5

CHURCH ...0 FARNWORTH SC ...2

KING WILLIAM ...4 PARTY PEOPLE ...7

Division One

HULTON LANE B ...1 QUEEN ANNE ...9

HORWICH ST MARY'S ...5 SHARPLES ...2

ASTLEY BRIDGE ...2 NORTH BOLTON ...5

HALL I'TH' WOOD ...2 GREYHOUND ...3