Enfield Borough were left to rue misfortune and bemoan their wasteful finishing after slipping to a 1-0 defeat to Ampthill Town on the opening day of the new Spartan South Midlands Division One season on Saturday.

It was all change for Borough after a first season of consolidation at step six last term, with new manager Shaun Reece handing competitive debuts to Brandon Walsh, Brandon McKenna, Alie Bangura and Richard Oluwatoyin.

Playing in new surroundings having agreed a ground-sharing arrangement to use Wingate & Finchley’s Maurice Rebak Stadium, it was Enfield who started the better as Bangura saw two opportunities come and go in quick succession.

Then a neat one-two between McKenna and Thomas Opoku eventually forced a sprawling save from Ampthill’s goalkeeper but, with the danger far from over, Bangura was unable to turn home the rebound.

Enfield continued to dominate proceedings creating, and squandering, further promising openings in an encouraging first-half display.

Richard Ennin headed wide, despite being unmarked, before Brian Tshibangu was unfortunate to see his effort cleared off the line and Jamiah Plentie-Lawrence hit the woodwork from a free-kick.

Ampthill grew into the contest as the game ticked towards the break with a string of half chances providing warnings for Borough.

Early in the second period, Bangura was again denied as Enfield struck the post for the second time in the match.

And the hosts would be punished for their profligate finishing as Jamie Cerminara was judged marginally onside and he finished well beyond Walsh.

At 1-0, and prepared to sit back, the Bedfordshire club nearly stung Enfield again on the break before Reece’s charges were denied by the post for the third time.

Incredibly, however, Ampthill delivered a smash-and-grab raid on the opening day to notch up a 1-0 victory that defied Enfield’s dominance.