Newly-promoted Llanelli Town opened their Welsh League season in style, firing five goals past Taffs Well at Stebonheath Park on Friday evening.
Veteran striker Lee Trundle showed he has lost none of his appetite for goals, scoring Llanelli’s first goal and capping their victory with a screamer of a fifth.
Joe Clarke (2) and Jordan Davies were their other marksmen.
Llanelli led 2-0 at half-time and Davies added a third after 46 minutes, while the Wellmen showed spirit and drive for the rest of the match.
They scored twice, but could not claw their way back into the First Division fixture.
Manager Andy Hill and his Llanelli team were crowned Second Division champions with an unbeaten record in 2016-17 and completed a trophy double by lifting the Nathaniel Car Sales Cup.
They fired more than 100 league goals and have a powerful squad, but will face a far tougher challenge in the second tier of Welsh football.
Manager Rhys Griffiths and his Penybont team open their season with a home match against Monmouth Town at the KYMCO Stadium (2.30pm).
They finished runners-up to promoted Barry Town United last season and they look likely to be among the frontrunners again.
Former Cardiff City defender Gethin Jones, Bradley Flay and Liam Walsh are among Penybont’s new signings.
Haverfordwest County pushed Barry for a long time last season and were right in the hunt until a 2-0 defeat at Jenner Park in March effectively knocked them off course.
Pontypridd Town will make another major bid for promotion after missing out behind Cwmamman United last season. David Burnett and Nyran Bird moved from AFC Porth to Ponty in the close season – and they make a quick return to their former club.
Pontypridd travel to the Rhondda today (Saturday) to play AFC Porth.
Their first League home fixture, against Aberdare Town, is on Saturday, August 26. Ponty will play home games at the USW Sport Park, Treforest this season.
Cardiff’s STM Sports, newly-promoted and with former AFC Porth manager Gareth Morgan in charge, and relegated Caldicot Town are others who could have strong seasons.
Splott-based Bridgend Street swept into the Welsh League Cup final last season, beating First Division clubs Taffs Well and Haverfordwest County along the way, and they will want to press for promotion from Division Three.
Street open this afternoon at home against Neuadd Wen, a formed from a group of players largely playing reserve team football for Welsh League Aberbargoed.
They are still, nine years later, based in the same valleys town as Aberbargoed Buds. Neuadd Wen have progressed from North Gwent football, through the Gwent County competition into the Welsh League.
Welsh League fixtures in August:
Division One
August
Friday 11: Afan Lido 1, Goytre United 6; Llanelli Town 5, Taffs Well 2.
Saturday 12: Cwmamman United v Briton Ferry Llansawel (2.30pm), Cwmbran Celtic v Ton Pentre (2.30pm), Goitre v Cerau Ely (2.30pm), Penybont v Monmouth Town (2.30), Port Talbot Town v Haverfordwest County (2.30pm), Undy Athletic v Cambrian and Clydach.
Saturday 19: Caerau Ely v Afan Lido (2.30pm), Cambrian and Clydach v Cwmamman United (2.30pm), Haverfordwest County v Cwmbran Celtic (2.30pm), Penybont v Undy Athletic (2.30pm), Taffs Well v Goytre (2.30pm), Ton Pentre v Monmouth Town (2.30pm).
Friday 25: Cwmamman United v Penybont (6.15).
Saturday 26: Cwmbran Celtic v Goytre United (2.30pm), Goytre v Briton Ferry Llansawel (2.30pm), Haverfordwest County v Monmouth Town (2.30pm), Llanelli Town v Cambrian and Clydach (2.30pm), Port Talbot Town v Afan Lido (2.30pm), Taffs Well v Caerau Ely (2.30pm), Undy Athletic v Ton Pentre.
Division Two
August
Friday 5: Risca United 2, Aberdare Town 1.
Saturday 12: Aberbargoed Buds v Ammanford (2.30pm), Abergavenny Town v West End (2.30pm), AFC Llwydcoed v Pontardawe Town (2.30pm), AFC Porth v Pontypridd Town (2.30pm), Croesyrceiliog v Dinas Powys (2.30pm), Garden Village v Caldicot Town (2.30pm).
Saturday 19: Aberbargoed Buds v Risca United (2.30pm), Abergavenny Town v Ammanford (2.30pm), AFC Llwydcoed v Dinas Powys (2.30pm), Caldicot Town v STM Sports (2.30pm), Garden Village v Pontardawe Town (2.30pm).
Saturday 26: AFC Porth v STM Sports (2.30pm), Ammanford v Risca United (2.30pm), Caldicot Town v AFC LLwydcoed (2.30pm), Dinas Powys v Abergavenny Town (2.30pm), Llantwit Major v Garden Village (2.30pm), Pontardawe Town v Croesyceliog (2.30pm), Pontypridd Town v Aberdare Town (2.30pm), West End v Aberbargoed Buds (2.30pm).
Division Three:
August
Saturday 12: Bridgend Street v Neuadd Wen (2.30pm), Caerau v Treharris Athletic Western (2.30pm), Ely Rangers v Tredegar Town (2.30pm), Pontyclun v Swansea University (2.30pm), Trefelin Boys and Girls Clubs v Trethomas Bluebirds (2.30pm), Treowen Stars v Newport City (2.30pm), Ynysgerwn v Chepstow Town (2.30pm).
Friday 25: Newport City v Swansea University (7.45pm), Trethomas Bluebirds v Ynysgerwn (7.45pm).
Saturday 26: Chepstow Town v Ely Rangers (2.30pm), Neauadd Wen v Trefelin Boys and Girls Club (2.30pm), Penrhiwceiber Rangers v Caerau, Pontyclun v Panteg (2.30pm), Treharris Athletic Western v Bridgend Street (2.30pm).
Nathaniel Car Sales League Cup first round:
Tuesday: Abergavenny Town v Goytre United (7.30pm), Neauadd Wen v West End (7.30pm), Penrhiwceiber Rangers v Monmouth Town (6.30pm), Pontardawe Town v Ton Pentre (6.30pm), ), Port Talbot Town v Ely Rangers (7.30pm),Treharris Athletic Western v Cambrian and Clydach (6.30pm), Treowen Stars v AFC Llwydcoed (6.30pm), Trethomas Bluebirds v Swansea University FC (7pm), Ynysgerwn v Panteg (7.40pm).
Wednesday: Caldicot Town v Bridgend Street (7pm), Croesyceiliog v Chepstow Town (6.30pm), Cwmamman United v Goytre (6.30pm), Llantwit Major v Garden Village (6.30pm), Pontyclun v Pontypridd Ton (6.30pm), Taffs Well v Dinas Powys (7.15pm), Tredegar Town v Haverfordwest County (6.30pm).
Tuesday 22: STM Sports v Undy Athletic (6.30pm).