THERE was a goal crazy start to the new S1 Sport North Devon Youth Football League season in the under-16s division.

The two games produced 19 goals, with Braunton edging out Torridgeside 5-4 and Hatherleigh beating SAS 7-3.

Brendon Harris (two), Danny Lee-Curtis and Jack England notched for Torridgeside.

Jason Lathwell, Charlie O'Connor and Connor Heaney got the SAS goals, with Hatherleigh taking the points through Oli Squires (two), Luke Jeffries (two), Ryan Dunster, Greg Jones and an own goal.

There was an opening day shock for last season's under-13 champions.

Bideford Blues Under-14s were beaten 3-1 at home by Torridgeside.

It was the first time they had managed to beat the Blues and they did it by coming from behind with goals from James Langmead, Courtney Hodorowski (penalty) and summer signing Evan Elson.

Braunton scored twice in each half to defeat visiting SAS Colts 4-1. Raith Whattingham scored a hat-trick and Daniel Brice, the man of the match, was also on target.

The under-12s are experiencing full size pitches and goals for the first time and two of the opening games produced nine-goal thrillers.

Bideford Blues defeated Total Football 5-4 with goals from Mike Gardner-Skeet (three), John Downing and Kobi Bryant. Mitch Turner (two), Callum Acland and Owen Smith, notched for Total who named goalkeeper Tom Parkhouse as man of the match.

Torridgeside looked out of it at half time as they trailed Braunton Wanderers 5-0. They set about damage limitation and pulled back four goals through Ben Floyd, Billy Blackburn, Owen Pennington and Rob Boundy. Edward Grills, playing his first game, was Torridgeside's star man.

Barnstaple Youth Under-11s opened their account with a 12-0 win over Appledore. The goals were scored by Bailey Walker (four), Jack Paterson (three), man of the match Archie Reay (two), Bradley Phillips, Jack Rice and Kyle Darragh.

Braunton Wanderers went one better, hitting 13 without reply at home to Tarka. Kai Evans (three), Bradley Williams (three), Mitchell Bell (two), John Morgan (two), Ralph Chesworth, Ollie Hill and Bohdan Martin scored.

For Tarka, there were some encouraging performances, especially from goalkeeper Shannon Cohen and defenders Holly Hunt and Jake McNeill.

A single goal, by Callum Williams, was enough for Ilfracombe to win at Chulmleigh, for whom Callum Youngman and Will Hammell emerged with great credit.

There were plenty of one-sided affairs in the under-10 section. Top billing went to SAS who had an inspirational debut from Tom Swales in their 10-0 win at Combe Martin.

The man of the match scored twice, while Robbie Dendle got a second-half hat-trick and Harry Evans (two), Billy Wood, Leon Beauchamp and Harry Lynch also found the net.

Barnstaple Youth won 8-0 at home to Appledore with left winger Arthur Wood helping himself to five goals. James Whelan bagged two and the other came from Andrew Morgan.

Marcus Gould (three) and Cathan Hawkes (two) shared the goals as Bideford Blues hit five without reply at home to Torridgeside.

Braunton beat visiting South Molton 6-0 with Alex Hurd (two), James McPhail (two), Neil Summerville and Alfie Denham on target.

Holsworthy enjoyed the same scoreline at Eastside, where the home side's Niall Overend prevented a much bigger defeat with a string of fine saves.

Torridgeside Under-15s showed no mercy to plucky North Molton Stags, with Drew Sullivan scoring five in a 10-0 win. Kai Mead (three), George Nancekivell and Daniel Bough got the others.

Luke Kerswell (two), Alex Cammack, Jordan Evans and Matthew Hartnoll got the goals as Braunton Wanderers Under-13s won 5-2 at Torridgeside.

Barnstaple Youth and Bideford Blues scored a goal each in the under-9s division, with Max Cooke netting Barum's.

Eastside were 7-2 winners at South Molton where Jack Winters (three), Aaron Hastie (two) and Charlie Jenkins (two) were the scorers. Skipper Corey Moore was man of the match for the victors.