Late goals were the story of the opening day for both Colney Heath and Harpenden Town as the new Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division season got under way.

Sam Doolan found the net with a header on 82 minutes as the Magpies won 2-1 at home to Baldock Town, powering in at the far post to meet a Jack Woods corner.

Woods was named man of the match for an all action display and he was only on assist duty for the opening goal.

This time it was Sam Denham who got on the end of a set-piece, a free-kick, glancing it across the keeper and into the corner.

Woods had gone closest before that when he was set-up by Godfrey Opoku and afterwards there were chances for Billy Owen, Pijus Montvydas and Finbar King.

Baldock levelled in first-half stoppage time though with a shot into the roof of the net by Owen Robertson and they had chances in the second period before Doolan's intervention.

One minute after the centre-half was giving the Mags all three points, Jake Anthony was securing a point for Harpenden away to Tring Athletic.

He converted a penalty by rolling it to the left of the keeper who was going the other way.

Tring had taken the lead just past the hour from a corner.

Both teams are in FA Cup action on Saturday when the Magpies host Ilford and Harpenden go to Stanway Rovers.

Elsewhere in the SSML Premier Division, Dunstable Town and Leverstock Green are setting the pace after both won 2-0 against Ayesbury Vale Dynamos and St Panteleimon respectively.

London Colney start their league season in a new league, the Combined Counties Division One, away to Bedfont on Saturday.

Their final pre-season game ended in a 2-2 draw at home to Hoddesdon Town.

They had to come from behind twice with Scott Knight and Tommy Pidgeon on target.