Danny Nelson scored with an overhead kick from just outside the six-yard box after a pinpoint pass from newcomer Andrew Gordon in the 25th minute of a one-sided game.

Last season Nelson netted 25 times for the Town to finish second in the goalscoring charts behind new club captain Tom Berwick who will miss the first few games of the new campaign through suspension.

At the weekend he was partnered up front by the ever-reliable Danny Finlay after former Daventry United top marksman Tommy Waldock was confined to the substitutes bench because of a slight hamstring strain.

Finlay was the man-of-the-match despite blasting over the bar from his yards' range as well as hitting a post in a match which saw Cogenhoe forced to defend for long periods.

Other chances fell to Nelson and Gordon in an encounter which also saw young David Gibson make his Town debut as a late substitute.

The home side never looked like conceding a goal themselves with the back four of John Cullen, Luke Walker, Chris Godwin and Tom James all turning in competent performances against likely mid-table opposition.

UCL manager-of-the-year Martyn Walker was reasonably satisfied with the Town's opening performance, saying: "At least we started with a win although the scoreline could have been much higher as we missed numerous chances."

A year ago the Town had opened their Division One title-winning campaign with a 3-3 home draw against Eynesbury Rovers after conceding two goals in the first three minutes.

This time there was no repeat of the defensive carelessness which did not prevent the Daventry club from going onto to win the championship by 20 points in a season which brought only one defeat (3-1) by Sileby Rangers in the penultimate league game.

n For highlights of Daventry Town's game against Cogenhoe plus an interview with their goal-scorer on the day go to http://www.soccerx.co.uk/Cogenhoe1.htm