IT has been an eventful and busy start to the Cheshire Football League season for local sides - including a former Premier League player making a goal-scoring debut.

A third successive win at the 2023/24 campaign's start placed Middlewich Town top of the Premier Division.

Saturday's 3-2 victory at AFC Knowsley, courtesy of goals from Jay O'Connor, Luca Daniel Partington and Ben Brown, followed the 2-1 midweek success at Congleton Town Reserves and the opening 1-0 win at Garswood United.

Owen Wynne netted both goals at Congleton, while Art Hollins hit the mark at Garswood.

The Witches continue on the road for the season's start, visiting Eagle Sports tonight, kick-off 6.30pm, Broadheath on Saturday, 2pm, and then Lostock Gralam next Tuesday, 6.30pm.

Lostock also got their campaign off to a strong start.

The 2022-23 JB Parker Premier Division Challenge Cup winners defeated reigning champions Whalley Range 4-1 to win the start-of-season Cheshire Football League Memorial Cup Final and followed that with a 3-1 success at Altrincham FC Reserves, with Jordon Johnson and Jonathan Jones on the mark in both games.

Lostock host Congleton Reserves tonight, kick-off 6.30pm, and then head to AFC Knowsley on Saturday before hosting the encounter with Middlewich, 6.30pm.

Winsford Town have got their very first campaign off to a creditable beginning, sitting top of League Two after two opening wins against St Helens Town - 4-0 away from home and then 3-0 at Witton Albion's U Lock It Stadium four days later.

James Dean netted a hat-trick in the away fixture, while player-manager Rob Hopley was on the mark alongside Zachary Billinge and Zachary Williams in the second meeting.

Town suffered their first defeat against Clay Brow FC on Saturday at Winsford Academy.

Winsford-born former Premier League footballer Nicky Maynard, 36, whose pro clubs included Crewe Alexandra, Bristol City, West Ham United, Cardiff City, Milton Keynes Dons, Aberdeen, Bury, Mansfield Town and Tranmere Rovers, scored their solitary goal on his debut in the 3-1 loss.

Hopley's side then defeated Haydock FC 3-1 at Barton Stadium last night, with another of their Winsford-born former Premier League stars Danny Fox - an ex-Scotland international - among their scorers.

After starting out with Everton, Fox made close to 450 professional appearances with Walsall, Coventry City, Celtic, Burnley, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Wigan Athletic and East Bengal.

Hopley's side entertain Haydock tonight, Tuesday, at Barton Stadium, home of Winsford United, kick-off 7pm.

Town are away to Newton-le-Willows on Saturday, 2pm, and then Sandbach Town Ramblers on Tuesday, 6.30pm.

Also in League Two, Hartford are seeking their first win.

Saturday's 4-2 home loss to Pilkingtons Under 23s, which featured two goals from Luis Joyner, came after a 1-1 draw at Sandbach Town Ramblers and an opening home 1-0 loss to Haydock.

Hartford will be hoping for better fortune when they visit St Helens Town on Saturday, 2pm.