The opening day of the new football season was definitely not what Potters Bar Town and Welwyn Garden City wanted - as they both conceded five.
The Scholars lost 5-0 away to Carshalton Athletic in the Isthmian League Premier Division in a match that got away from them in the second half.
The first period had seen both sides trade chances with Max Mitchell's men hitting the woodwork twice.
Valckx Fernandes' header after a quick free kick grazed the top of the bar before Sam Dowridge’s first-time shot from the edge of the box came back off the upright.
As is so often the case though, the first goal proved crucial and came from the penalty spot after a foul by Adelberto Pinto.
The Robins doubled their lead 10 minutes into the second half and then hit a third just four minutes later.
Carshalton also hit the post but wrapped up the win with a double inside the last six minutes.
Potters Bar host Enfield Town on Tuesday.
Welwyn Garden City meanwhile were beaten 5-2 at home to Biggleswade on day one of the Southern League Division Once Central season.
The visitors were runners up in the division last term and are looking to go one better this year.
But there were still some positives for the Citizens who gave debuts to Donnabhan Green in goal, Joshua Bryant at left-back, Adam Pollok in midfield and striker Darnell Wynter.
And like for Potters Bar, the first goal proved vital.
Biggleswade had hit the bar in the opening minute, although Green hand a hand in that, tipping a George Coles effort onto the woodwork.
But they had two goals after the first 15 minutes, Tom Coles looping a header back across goal and inside the far post for the first one and then George Wheeler-Bailey going round Green for number two.
But Welwyn responded well and when Wynter was fouled inside the box, he struck a debut goal from 12 yards.
That galvanized the Citizens and some terrific passing moves with Zac Guerfi, Ethan Kesel and Wynter all linking superbly.
Wynter forced ex-WGC man Dan Green into a fine save but with the home side in the ascendancy, half-time came too soon early.
City boss Marc Weatherstone made an early change in the second half with Bailey Stevenson coming on for Pollock and he was causing Biggleswade problems when the visitors extended their lead again.
City brought on Ethan Kessel alongside marquee summer signing Wadkins and he went on to have a fine game for the remaining 24 minutes.
The fourth was therefore a slap in the face for WGC but again there was a response.
And Wynter could have reduced the deficit when Guerfi did well to find the striker with a fine free-kick.
His header though rebounded off the post and back into play.
City duly give the home faithful something to cheer about with a second, Wynter poking the ball into the path of the impressive Wadkins who finished from close-range.
Wadkins had the ball in the back of the net approaching full-time but his thunderous blast past Dan Green was ruled out for offside.
And Biggleswade wrapped things up with a fifth in stoppage time as they burst forward with pace.
Wadkins forced Dan Green into one last save but Welwyn will hope for better when they go to Ware on Tuesday.
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