SCORING ace Mark Jones resumed where he had left off at the end of last season, as he bagged a brace of goals to provide Pwllheli with a promising 2-0 first match victory over St Asaph City in the Lock Stock Welsh Alliance division one.

The Recreation Ground club’s top marksman last term netted goals on 39 and 54 minutes, to seal an all-round team display that satisfied manager Barry Evans.

The first half was fairly evenly contested and, after St Asaph’s Carl Murray had spurned a chance, the play swept to the other end, where Jones fired his opener.

St Asaph keeper Mike Corbett had to retrieve the ball from the net a second time early in the second period, after Pwllheli’s most dangerous forward turned his marker to drive the ball into the net again.

Jones had a chance to achieve a hat-trick, but he dragged a penalty wide of the target, while Dylan Sion Jones also had two netted efforts disallowed for the hosts.

Barmouth and Dyffryn United, under new manager Carl Ryan, were disappointed to lose to Llanrwst United 2-1, but they had the chances to have got a better result.

Two goals in eight minutes early on, from Callum Parry on 11 and Steven Whittaker on 19, proved to be crucial, but Barmouth’s initiatives had involved George Sutherns and Shane Jones going close.

The second half action brought more promising attacks by the Wern Mynach hosts, with Dan Griffiths putting in a couple of decent efforts, as did Shane Jones, who finally converted a penalty awarded by referee Kelvin Lewis on 86 minutes.

Llanrwst, who were already down to 10 men following Luke Roberts’ second booking, saw Leighton Griffiths shown the red card for his hand ball in the box.

Penrhyndeudraeth succumbed to a goal in each half, as Llangefni notched a 2-0 win over Julian Jeffrey’s revamped team.

Without the injured Jack Jones and Liam Watson, Penrhyn were not at full strength, and had Huw Quaeck was sent off in the first half, after two yellow card offences.

The goal that split the teams in the opening period came on 20 minutes, when the hosts rushed forward and Iwan Jones fired past debutant keeper Caron Hughes.

Quaeck looked well placed a couple of times, but was unable to convert, and in the second spell Harry Galeotti secured the three points with a 20 yard free-kick.

Last season’s division two champions Llandudno Albion enjoyed the perfect debut at the higher level by beating the 20116 title kings Trearddur Bay United 4-1.

A goal after just two minutes by David Maddox provided Llandudno with a flying start, and Maddox found the home net again two minutes into the second period.

Allan Davies added Albion’s third goal on 80 minutes, followed by Chris Quinn scoring on 87, but Trearddur squeezed a late reply from Declan Jones from the spot.

Conwy Borough, relegated from the Cymru Alliance last season, piled up an 8-0 tally over Llanberis at Ffordd Padarn.

New signing Sion Hogan, last season at Glantraeth figuring in their title triumph, hit four goals on 20, 60, 61 and 90 minutes.

Former Glantraeth team-mate Corrig McGonigle also celebrated a hat-trick, netting on five, 20 and 46 minutes, with Kevin Lloyd also scoring in the 73rd minute.

Greenfield and Llanrug United drew 2-2, after goals from the home team’s Liam Roberts on 47 minutes and Kieron Roberts on 58 and the visitors’ Alan Mark Owen on seven and Carl Griffiths on 80.