Nortel got the new league campaign off to the worst possible start in today's game at home to Newington by conceding a goal with one minute on the clock.

Sloppy defending allowed a cross from the right to find a Newington player with the easy task of slipping the ball under the onrushing Hamilton in the home goal.

After the trials and tribulations in the Nortel camp over the close season it could have been expected that heads would drop,but to the contrary and the credit of the players they dug in and found themselves level after 10 minutes.

A mistake from a Newington defender allowed Conlin possession and his cross found Butler unmarked to slot home from 10 yards.

The home side then took the lead on 20 minutes when Butler slotted into an empty goal from 25 yards for his and Nortels second after the away custodian had rushed out and failed to clear.

Unfortunately the home side couldn't hold out to half time with Newington pressure resulting in two quick goals just before the break, with the Nortel players bitterly disappointed that at least one wasn't blown up for offside.

Half time 2-3

Within 5 minutes of the restart the game was leveled when a Stuart Conlin cross found the head of Eric Moore whose powerful header gave the keeper no chance.

With the game now evenly poised Nortel almost took the lead on 55 minutes when a Butler drive beat the keeper but crashed against the far post and out to safety.

On 63 minutes Newington regained the lead with a hotly disputed goal as at least two players looked a mile off side as the ball was slotted past Hamilton.

Any hopes Nortel had to get something out of the game vanished on 68 minutes when after a scuffle two home players along with one from newington were dispatched to the changing rooms for an early bath.

Although the nine men battled valiantly for the equalizer tiredness was starting to take its toll and the game stuttered to a close, with a disappointed Nortel dressing room now having to prepare for Tuesdays home game against Albert Foundry.

Full time 3-4

Team

Hamilton

Bloomfield McMinn Kyle Galbraith

Conlin Faulkner R Moore Furgrove

E Moore Butler

Subs

Smyth for Furgrove

Baillie for Bloomfield

McCleod for Faulkner

Goals Butler 2 E Moore

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