THE match of the day was the meeting of the two sides who finished first and second in the Colborne Trophies Premier Division last season and Ewood Amateurs came out on top with a 4-0 win.

The game was far closer than that, Griffin made plenty of openings, but failed to find the net - full report and pictures in Wednesday's Sport Extra section.

The two sides promoted to this division, Railway Hotel and Centurions, both got off to winning starts. Railway visiting Crown Berger at Oakenhurst, scored the only goal of the game. Centurions, away to St Mary's College Old Boys, won this game comfortably. Rishton, Old Bar and Manxman opened their campaign with wins.

In the Hi-Tech Replacement Windows Second Division, New Gardeners and Anchor Hotel - who have over the past two seasons been the forerunners in the Fourth and Third Divisions - could well be in contention again this season, with an eye on a place in the top flight. Both teams collected maximum points from their opening game and showed that neither have lost their ability to hit the back of the net.

There were plenty of goals in this division with Witton Albion and New Gardeners each hitting six. Pleasington notched five and Blackburn United chipped in with four, making a total of 36 goals in the division. One of only two drawn games in the league saw Ivy Hotel and Langho share the spoils. In the Third Division only one of three sides who came up from the Fourth Division failed to open with a win. Crown Berger Res being defeated by Blackburn Olympic who scored the only goal of the game. Railway Hotel (Darwen) and Brinscall, started in the higher division with excellent wins, Darwen Subs were the top scorers in this division, putting eight past Pleasington Res. The second drawn game of the day was in this division with Bangor Old Boys and Athletico Mellor sharing the points. Saturday was an excellent day for Centurions, while their first team were starting life in the top flight with a win, their B team were hitting in the headlines in the Neales Waste Management Fourth Division in a game they won 10-5 against Forests Arms.

Another newcomer to the Combination, Hordens FC, just got the better of Lord Raglan (formerly Cupal), and yet another newcomer, Preston New Road, also started with a win. Tonight, the preliminary round of the Blackburn with Darwen Sports Council Challenge Trophy takes place (kick-offs 5.45pm) .

The Combination are still anxious to recruit more referees. For more information ring appointments secretary Frank Henry on 01254 673185.

Results - Premier Division: Bee Hive 1, Manxman 3; Crown Berger 0, Railway Hotel 1; Griffin Celtic 0, Ewood Amateurs 4; St Mary's COB 1, Centurions 5; West End CYC 1, Rishton 3.

Division Two: Blackburn Utd 4, Marleys Wine Bar 1; Langho 2, Ivy Hotel 2; New Gardeners 6, St Matthews 2; Pleasington 5, Clarence FC 2; Rishton Res 0, Anchor Hotel 5; Whitehall Top Con 1, Witton Albion 6.

Division Three: Alex Hotel Res 5, Blue Star 3; Bangor Old Boys 2, Athletico Mellor; Blackburn Olympic 0, Crown Berger Res 1; Darwen Subs 8, Pleasington Res 1; Brinscall 5, Blackburn YMCA 1; Worth Ave 1, Railway Hotel Darwen 2. Division Four: Centurions 10, Forests Arms 5; Hordens 3, Lord Raglan 2; Pleasington C 3, Grimshaw Park FC 6; Preston New Road 2, Rishton C 1.

Fixtures for Saturday - Premier Division: Alex Hotel v St Mary's College OB (P11); Centurions v West End CYC; Manxman v Griffin Celtic (P9); Railway Hotel v Bee Hive (B/s); Rishton v Crown Berger.

Division Two: Anchor Hotel v Whitehall Top Con (P1); Clarence FC v New Gardeners; Ivy Hotel v Rishton Res (P2); Marleys Wine Bar v Pleasington (P3); St Matthew's v Langho (P4); Witton Albion v Blackburn Utd.

Division Three: Athletico Mellor v Darwen Subs (P5); Blackburn YMCA v Worth Avenue; Blue Star v Bangor Old Boys (P6); Crown Berger Res v Brinscall; Pleasington Res v Blackburn Olympic (P/g 1); Railway Hotel Darwen v Alex Hotel Res (P/g 2).

Division Four: Blackburn Olympic Res v Pleasington C (P7); Brinscall Res v Preston New Road; Forests Arms v Hordens (P8); Lord Raglan v St Matthew's Res (P10); Rishton C v Centurions B (B/s).

THE first round of the Blackburn with Darwen Sports Council Challenge Trophy takes place next Tuesday, September 14 (kick off 5.45pm): Crown Berger or St Matthew's v Centurions; Rishton Res v Pleasington Res; West End CYC v New Gardeners or Pleasington C ( Pleasington P1); Crown Berger Res v Ath Mellor of Blackburn Olympic Res; Ivy Hotel v Brinscall Res or Railway Darwen (P2). Worth Ave v Forests Arms (P3); Whitehall Top Con v Rishton C (P4); Bangor Old Boys or Blue Star v Alex Hotel or Pleasington (P5); St Matthew's Res or Clarence v Rishton or Marleys Wine Bar ; Centurions B or Ewood Am v Grimshaw Park FC; Brinscall v Griffin Celtic or Darwen Subs: SMCOB or Blackburn Olympic v Old Toll Bar or Alex Hotel Res.

Blackburn YMCA v Manxman or Hordens; Langho or Lord Raglan v Bee Hive; Preston New Road or Blackburn Utd v Anchor Hotel (P7); Witton Albion v Railway Hotel.

Where no ground is indicated, this depends on the outcome of tonight's preliminary round matches. All games on council-owned grounds will take place at Pleasington.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.