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Margate got their Isthmian Premier campaign off to a positive start on Saturday with on-loan Gillingham youngster Toby Bancroft grabbing the winner.
Gate won 2-1 at Brightlingsea Regent, Bancroft coming off the bench to make it 2-0 following a corner.
It was a second assist in the game for former Whitstable man John Ufuah, who joined Margate in the summer, after he set up Luke Carey’s 10th-minute opener.
Brightlingsea pulled one back through Valter Rocha from long range but Margate were able to hold on for the three points.
It took goal machine Joe Taylor just eight minutes to carry on from where he left off last season.
Taylor opened his account with a brace for Cray Wanderers in their 5-1 home win over Kingstonian.
New signing Jason Banton doubled the lead before half-time and he then set up Rhys Murrell-Williamson early in the second half.
Freddie Parker’s free-kick and Taylor’s second were sandwiched by a consolation from Corie Andrews as Wanderers eased to victory.
A battle of two much-fancied sides at Cheriton Road saw Worthing run out 2-1 winners at Folkestone.
Ricky Agular’s goal just before half-time but Worthing ahead and they doubled their advantage through Ollie Pearce’s header early in the second half.
David Smith marked his debut after joining from Ashford in the summer by pulling one back for Folkestone but they were unable to find an equaliser.
Frannie Collin’s last-gasp header handed Hythe Town a 3-2 win over Burgess Hill in Isthmian South East.
Kane Phillip had put Hythe ahead after only seven minutes before Alex Laing’s long-range equaliser on the half-hour.
Phillip’s header restored Hythe’s advantage early in the second half but Tom Wynter’s own goal made it 2-2 with seven minutes left.
Teenage striker George Nikaj came off the bench to fire Ramsgate - knocked out of the FA Cup last week - to an impressive 3-1 win at Chichester.
Mitchell Chapman gave Ramsgate the lead straight after the break before Nikaj scored twice inside three minutes.
Josh Clack’s penalty reduced the arrears but could do nothing to prevent Matt Longhurst’s side claiming all three points.
Another team to bounce back from FA Cup defeat last week were VCD Athletic, as new boss Nick Davis got his league campaign off to a winning start against Whitehawk.
Marvin Hamilton gave Whitehawk a fifth-minute lead – an advantage the visitors held until five minutes from time when Malachi Hudson levelled. Hudson then won a penalty which he converted himself to bag the three points with two minutes remaining.
Darren Blackburn had a six-month wait to take charge of Sittingbourne in a league game – but he got off to a winning start with a 3-2 derby success over Whitstable.
Tijan Jadama gave Whitstable a third-minute lead but Andy Drury equalised from the penalty spot before Kane Rowland put the Brickies ahead.
Harry Goodger made it 3-1 with 15 minutes left, which meant Luke Medley’s late goal was no more than a consolation for Whitstable.
Cray Valley claimed a creditable goalless draw at Hastings, who played with 10 men for more than an hour following Jack Dixon’s red card.
Jason Thompson scored twice in four minutes as Sevenoaks ran out 4-1 winners over Three Bridges.
Alex Barbary had given Three Bridges a surprise lead but Kyle De Silva levelled on the stroke of half-time.
Thompson put Oaks in charge and James Bessey-Sakdana wrapped up the points in the final minute.
Two penalties in the first 20 minutes put Whyteleafe on the road to a 4-1 win at Herne Bay.
Ryan Gondoh converted both spot-kicks and Omari Hibbert also netted a brace before half-time as the visitors led 4-0.
Mobolaji Dawodu replied midway through the second half for a shell-shocked Bay.
Johan ter Horst netted for Ashford but they lost 2-1 to Phoenix Sports, who replied through Jeff Duah-Kessie and Oliver Andrews. Read the match report here .
