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Lee Hughes was the hero as Sven-Goran Eriksson's first game as Notts County's director of football ended in a resounding 5-0 win over Bradford.

The former West Brom star (pictured) marked his debut with a hat-trick to inspire new-look County to their first opening-day victory for nine years.

Hughes, one of eight summer signings in the starting line-up, had no part to play in the opening goal after 17 minutes as Ben Davies climbed to head in a cross from Luke Rodgers.

But the fearsome striker buried Bradford before half-time with a burst of two goals in the space of four minutes.

His hat-trick was completed after 54 minutes from the penalty spot after the livewire Rodgers had been brought down by Matt Clarke.

Goals from debutant Scott Rendell and Lee Mansell gave Torquay a winning return to League Two as they beat Chesterfield 2-0.

Rendell took just 15 minutes to notch his first competitive goal for the League Two's newest arrivals - back after two years in the Blue Square Premier, while Mansell (pictured) scored the other 19 minutes from time.

First-half strikes from Marvin Morgan and Andy Sandell set Aldershot on the way to a comfortable 3-1 opening day victory over sorry Darlington.

Morgan latched onto Chris Blackburn's lofted through-ball after only four minutes, steadied himself and confidently slotted the ball past David Knight to give the Shots the lead.

Colin Todd's Darlington side - which featured seven debutants and only officially came out of administration on Friday - were unsurprisingly disjointed as the Shots dominated.

Paul Warne struck a dramatic late winner as Rotherham got their season off to a winning start by beating Accrington 1-0.

The bookies might have installed the Millers as one of the favourites for promotion, but there was nothing in the first 45 minutes to justify their confidence.

But it all came good for Rotherham in the 88th minute when Sharps crashed a shot against the crossbar and close-season signing Warne - back for his second spell with Rotherham - crashed home the loose ball.

A last-minute strike from Marc Pugh salvaged a 2-2 draw for Hereford at Morecambe.

Goals from Craig Stanley and Stewart Drummond looked to have given the home side a winning start after Pugh had fired the Bulls in front in the first period; and it was Pugh again who found the net in the dying seconds to secure a point for the visitors.

A controversial penalty got Port Vale's new manager Micky Adams off the mark with a point his team barely deserved from a 1-1 draw with Rochdale.

Rochdale looked like securing their first win at Vale Park until a linesman adjudged a cross by Lee Collins had struck Tom Kennedy on the arm - and Marc Richards dispatched the spot-kick.

Super-sub Barry Hayles inspired Cheltenham to victory as they came from behind to beat Grimsby 2-1 in a thrilling opening game.

The 37-year-old set up the equaliser for Lee Ridley - the full back's curler was his first goal for the club - and then slid home the winner himself after good work by David Hutton.

Goals from Jon Nurse and Paul Benson gave Crewe a nightmare start to life back in the basement as Dagenham earned a 2-1 win.

Alex substitute Byron Moore rifled home after the break to cancel out Nurse's first-half stunner, but the Daggers struck back instantly through Benson to take home three well-deserved points.

Bournemouth cruised to an impressive 3-0 opening-day victory over Bury at Gigg Lane.

The hosts, who reached the play-offs last term, were well beaten by Eddie Howe's well-organised side.

Northampton's campaign got off to a frustrating start as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Macclesfield.

Relegated last season, the Cobblers failed to make the ideal start against a Macclesfield side which could have won it after frustrating the hosts for long periods.

Burton began life in the Football League with a 3-1 defeat at last year's play-off finalists Shrewsbury.

The Brewers impressed on their Football League debut but new goalkeeper Shane Redmond should have prevented Shrewsbury's first and third goals.

Janos Kovacs scored the only goal as Lincoln kicked off the season with a 1-0 win over Barnet.

City broke the deadlock in the 59th minute when a long free kick from Stefan Oakes was headed against the post by Kovacs but the ball rebounded for the big defender to fire his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Lincoln almost added a second goal late on when Clarke was sent clear by Paul Connor but his shot was inches wide.

PA Sport