Kempsey 3, Bishampton 1

BISHAMPTON lost on the opening day of the season for the first time in many seasons.

Kempsey started the brighter, making several good moves without seriously testing Bille in the Bishampton goal.

The visitors slowly got into the game with Ian Hall posing problems when running at the home defence. Good moves, though, were spoiled by poor final passes with neither team taking the upper hand.

Bishampton thought they had taken the lead after 30 minutes when Hall voll-eyed home from 12 yards only for a teammate to be adjudged offside.

Just as the half looked like ending goalless Matthew Bicknell won the ball on the edge of the penalty area and crashed the ball into the net to give Bishampton a half time lead.

The second half saw the young Kempsey side step up a gear searching for an equaliser and a mistake by the Bishampton defence saw them draw level.

Goalkeeper Bille called for the ball to be left, but a defender intervened and gave the ball to Daryl Gormley who slotted the ball into the empty net.

This proved the spur Kempsey needed and Mannion's header gave them a 2-1 lead with 15 minutes left.

They were good value for their lead, but Bishampton finally found the urgency their game had been missing and Mark Onens saw his shot saved.

Bille was forced into a fine stoppage time save save, but the rebound went to Badham who stroked the ball home to clinch the win.