The wait is finally over! After a mixed pre season, Flint Mountain began their North East Wales League 2015/16 campaign against league runners up, Aston Park Rangers. Rangers were a much changed side from last season, but could still provide a threat. Mountain gave competitive débuts to two new players, Shane Owens and Nathan Eccleson. Joining them in the starting line up was Scott Forrester, who re signed for the club in the Summer. Mountain were set up in an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation, with Owens and Leon Pickford occupying the wing back positions. In defence, Forrester was joined by Rob Rush and Tom Smith. In midfield, there were regular starting spots for Alex Millington and new Mountain captain, Craig Jones, whilst Keiron Moore was positioned behind the two strikers, Richie Hughes and Eccleson. On the substitutes bench, Mountain were blessed with new signings Mike Edwards and Ian Wynne, as well as Lee Messham, who also re signed in the Summer from AFC Brynford.

Aston Park were quicker out of the blocks and were determined to stamp their authority on the game early on. They had already gone close, when Keiron Moore was forced to make a clearance off the line to prevent them taking the lead. Mountain were slowly growing into the game, but despite some good passages of neat football, they were unable to find a way through the Aston Park defence. Just when it looked like Mountain were more likely to score, Aston Park sprung a surprise and opened the scoring. The ball was played through the Mountain defence, where the Aston striker raced onto the ball. Mountain goalkeeper Ricky Bennett rushed out of his goal to try and clear but the striker got their first, hitting it through Bennett and into the empty net.

Mountain were then forced into an early substitution, as debutant Shane Owens was replaced by Mike Edwards, suffering a recurrence of an injury suffered prior to the game. With that came a change in formation, to an attacking 4-3-3, as Mountain looked to regain a foothold in the game. But, as the half time whistle blew, the game remained 1-0 to Aston Park and leaving Mountain a lot of work to do.

As the second half began, Mountain were quick out of the traps, and should have been level just a minute into the half. Midfielder Keiron Moore was played through on goal, but he fluffed his chance, instead firing a shot past the far post. Two minutes later, Mountain again went close. Striker Nathan Eccleson hit an early effort towards the near post from close range, only to be denied by the post. The Aston Park second half resistance was short lived though, as with seven minutes of the half played, Mountain finally levelled. Leon Pickford, who had now moved to right back, delivered a good ball into the penalty area towards Richie Hughes. Hughes controlled the ball, before turning and firing a low shot past the goalkeeper.

Just two minutes later, the turnaround was complete as Mountain took the lead. Scott Forrester fired a teasing long ball towards Hughes. The Aston Park defender missed a headed clearance as the ball was then controlled by Hughes, before slotting the ball home. The Aston Park defenders were very unhappy with the referee, as they felt Hughes had controlled the ball with his hand on his way to scoring. In the aftermath of the goal, Mountain defender Rob Rush was cautioned for dissent.

Aston Park then looked to get back into the game themselves. Despite never really threatening Bennett in goal, he was forced to make a couple of saves to deny Aston Park. In order to stop their momentum, Mountain made another substitution, replacing Alex Millington with Lee Messham, with Messham moving onto the left wing and Moore moving into the centre again.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Flint Mountain managed to grab the all important next goal. Pickford again delivered a teasing ball in the penalty area. The Aston Park goalkeeper fumbled the ball straight to Hughes, though, leaving him the simple task or tapping the ball home to get an opening day hat trick. Almost immediately, Mountain could have made it four. As the ball was cleared away from goal, it fell to Mountain captain Craig Jones. Jones hit the ball on the half volley towards goal. The Aston Park keeper could only watch as the ball cannoned back off the crossbar.

The third goal looked to be a killer blow to the morale of the Aston Park side as they then quickly conceded a fourth goal. Nathan Eccleson worked well and drew a foul from Aston Park. From the resulting free kick, Leon Pickford's ball was headed on Keiron Moore to Lee Messham, who stooped low to head home unmarked. Eccleson was unfortunately required to be substituted after the challenge, being replaced by Ian Wynne. Messham then added his second, and Mountain's fifth of the game, but not before Richie Hughes' scooped effort was also denied by the crossbar. Messham raced onto a perfectly weighted ball from Keiron Moore and simply knocked the ball past the out rushing Aston Park goalkeeper and into the empty net.

The final action of the game come as Mountain scored their sixth goal to round off an impressive second half performance. Leon Pickford rescued the ball from the byline, passing to Rob Rush in the penalty area. Rush then passed across goal to an unmarked Tom Smith to tap home. Next up for Flint Mountain is another away trip to face Castle Park. Whilst also hailing from Flint, Castle Park will be plying their trade in Sandycroft in this coming season. They will go into the game on the back of an opening day 4-0 defeat at the hands of league newboys, Maesgwyn.

Man of the Match: Richie Hughes. Hughes' movement and aerial ability was a constant threat to Aston Park, as they struggled to cope with the Mountain striker. Hughes also bagged an opening day hat trick, giving him the first man of the match award for this season, as awarded by Aston Park Rangers.

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