Harleston Mapgies turned in a excellent display in their first league match under new coach Tim Whiteman - and were unlucky to come away with just a point.

A trip to a Wapping side newly relegated from the East Conference was a tough way to start the Premier A season.

But Magpies rose to the challenge and new signing Dave Gilbert fired them in front before a last-gasp short corner goal made it 1-1.

Dereham took the first step to making amends for a disappointing 2016-17 season by winning 3-2 at Bourne Deeping in Premier B. A brace from Will Edwards and a further goal from Guy Crooks saw Dereham go in to half-time three up. A flurry of short corners early in the second half saw this advantage cut to a single goal, but the visitors managed to hold on.

'Sometimes you've got to win ugly. When your back is against the wall you've got to be prepared to scrap,' said Dereham captain Ted Burner, 'I'm incredibly proud of the boys.'

After a successful pre-season with new coach Phil Skinner at the helm, Norwich City's campaign got off to a disappointing start when they lost 5-1 at Cambridge City II.

City found themselves 1-0 down inside the first few minutes through a deflected shot and they conceded two more before the break.

The hosts went on to make it 5-0 but City continued to fight and eventually managed to salvage a goal through Thomas Cooke.

City's seconds started the season with a bang, thrashing Pelicans 9-2 in Division 2N with Jeremy Elliott scoring four, Josh Bailey two and Miles Doncaster, Pete Morgan and Richard Silvester one apiece.

Harleston Magpies II were too strong for visiting UEA, winning 6-0 with Matt Bensley scoring a hat-trick.

Norwich Dragons came away from City of Peterborough III with a 1-1 draw, with Lewis Wilkins setting up an equaliser for Patrick Gordon.

The students' second team had a good 5-1 win at Norwich City IV (Tom Foreman, Henry Ashcroft, Iddy Mughal 2, Tom England; Simon Dale for City) and the thirds drew 2-2 with Norwich Exiles (Oliver White, Matthew Chapman).