Errors cost Hyde United as they opened the new campaign with a narrow defeat at home to one of the pre-season favorites Basford.

Hyde got off to a flying start when Bateman took time on the ball, O’Brien nipping the ball from under his feet and slotting under Preston after only 4 minutes. Hyde were pressing hard for a second, only a few last ditch tackles saving the visitors from going further behind.

But, against the run of play, Basford equalised when Reid ran onto a Chettle pass, unleashing a shot from the edge of the area that took keeper Hodges by surprise.

Basford started the second half strongly and got the goal they were searching for on 58 minutes when from a corner, Kane Richards poked the ball into the roof of the net after a goalmouth scramble.

The visitors found their third soon after some poor defending from Hyde allowed Richards to trickle through the back line and Grantham couldn’t miss at the front post.

The tigers didn’t let the game end there though as they replied immediately after a testing free kick from White passed everyone by and bounced into the far corner of the goal. Hyde’s hope of an equaliser vanished when goal scorer White was sent off for a second bookable offence, sealing all three points for Basford.

By George Rothwell