A run of seven straight wins at the end of last season hinted at the potential for this campaign and an opening day success for Colney Heath has done little to dampen that mood - although the boss would prefer a little more anonymity.

The Magpies came flying up the table at the end of last season, finishing seventh, four points off the play-off places in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.

And they opened day one of the 2024-25 season with a deserved 2-1 win away to Dunstable Town.

That was pleasing for manager Matt Day even if he is trying to keep everyone grounded.

"I'd rather stay unnoticed," admitted the boss. "It's different for us because of how well we finished last season, we had some good results.

"But in the grand scheme of things, the development of our club, and our group, over the course of 16 months has been exceptional. 

"What we need to do is control those emotions and control that idea we're just going to win every game. 

"The lads need to know they've still got a lot of hard work to do to improve and we will keep our standards high. 

"This is a great win but we’ve came away disappointed we haven’t kept a clean sheet." 

It had looked, for a long time, as if the Magpies would find nothing but frustration as chances went begging.

Jamie Fulton smashed in a superb opener on 71 minutes before Kelechi Etienne drilled in another fine effort 10 minutes later.

Fulton received a red card for two yellows in the first minute of stoppage time and it allowed Dunstable to scramble in a goal two minutes later.

Day said: "Well, being greedy, I wanted that clean sheet [too] and to concede in like the 93rd minute was sloppy from us defensively, we just switched off. 

"We knew when you come over here, you’re going to be in a game, it doesn't matter what the personnel are. 

"Whether it's the first game or you’re in different divisions, it's always going to be a tough game. 

"We had to challenge [the boys]. We lost 1-0 here last season, lost 1-0 at home to them as well, so to put that right was good. 

"We had some new faces in [as well] and it's the first game so there’ going to be some rustiness, we’re still working out relationships on the pitch and stuff. 

"I was pleased we got over the line. It could have been three or four by the time we scored. 

"We had another couple of chances to really put the icing on the cake and then, like I say, we switched off at the end so a bit disappointing from that respect. The skipper [Connor Sansom] is fuming because that’s his clean sheet gone. 

"But first game, first win, so I’m happy."

Harpenden Town meanwhile, beaten in the play-off semi-finals last time around, picked up a 3-2 success away to Shefford Town & Campton.

They trailed 1-0 at half-time but two from Harry Andic and one for Archie Locke, all in a nine-minute spell, took them clear before Shefford scored a second at the death.