TINTWISTLE Athletic are enjoying their first taste of life in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur Football League top flight after winning their first three games following their promotion to the Premier Division.

Their unbeaten record is only matched by Old Trafford and Gorse Hill who, following an opening game 9-1 win against Moston Brook, recorded a fine 3-1 win against Whalley Range, who had won both their opening fixtures.

The pace of the OT attack paid dividends as they raced into a 3-0 lead with strikes from Rees Vadran (two) and Kyle Pilkington.

Range reduced the arrears through Louie Scott but in an even second half OT ended as worthy winners with some determined defending.

Rochdalians showed their intent of retaining their title as they followed up their first day defeat with wins over Abacus Media by 3-0 and newly promoted High Lane by 2-1 in a close contest.

The other unbeaten team are Mellor with wins by 3-2 against Old Ashtonians and 4-2 at South Manchester.

Parrs Wood Celtic opened their campaign with an impressive 7-1 derby win against Bedians with the goals flowing from Jack Timmons (four), Matty Heard (two) and Andrew Lunt but they lost out 3-1 at Abacus Media in their second game.

Bedians showed their powers of recovery after losing at Parrs Wood with a 4-2 win against Old Ashtonians.

Bedians raced out of the blocks as Ash Hallsworth completed his hat-trick in 33 minutes and Phil Hardman added another.

Ashtonians pulled one back before the break from Zak Seddon and added another on 50 minutes from David Newton but Bedians defended well to deny Ashtonians any more goals.

In Division One, Moorside Rangers are the early leaders with two wins, the first being a 6-3 win against Didsbury.

An even first half ended at 3-3 but Moorside kept up their rhythm adding three more without reply after the break with the goals flowing from the excellent Chris Jones, Ashley Briggs and doubles from Kaden Goodman and Tom Kay.

Their second win was a 3-2 thriller hosting Signol Athletic with Rangers going into a 2-0 lead with goals from Goodman and Kamthunzi.

Signol reduced the arrears before the break with a strike from Clare and then levelled early in the second half as Hooley converted a penalty.

The final 30 minutes saw the fast pace of the game continue with good use of substitutes and Signol went close to snatching victory in the last five minutes only for Rangers to break free with Kelly firing home an unstoppable shot to secure the points.

Joining them at the top are Newton Heath with wins by 5-2 against Trafford United and 2-1 at Old Stretfordians.

Trafford United opened their account since winning promotion with a 2-1 win at Didsbury and there were also wins for Bury Ams, 3-1 against Oldham Vics, and Milton, 4-1 against Swinton FC.

The first games of the season in Division Two had new boys Waterloo winning a good-quality contest against Spurley Hey.

John Thompson finished a neat move to open the Waterloo account but this was short-lived as Hey came back quickly with a great strike from Matt Neale before Waterloo added their second for a pleasing win.

Chorltonians had Kyle Wilkie (two) and Tom Ford netting in their derby match with South Manchester to post a 3-1 win to top the table.

There were also first game victories for Mellor seconds, by 4-1 at Parrs Wood Celtic seconds, Staly Lions, 2-1 in their derby at Newton seconds, and AFC Oldham, 3-2 at Moston Brook seconds.

The hotshots of the day were Hooley Bridge Celtic who routed last season’s champions Whalley Range seconds 7-1.

Manchester Polonia are also new to the league and they began with a 3-1 home defeat to Heaton Mersey but showed enough quality to indicate they should do well at this level.

Chadderton Park were the other new boys in the division and they picked up a useful point, sharing two goals with Rochdalians seconds.

Another close encounter saw Hooley Bridge Celtic seconds win by the odd goal in three at High Lane seconds.