Cromer began their league campaign with a trip to Thorpe Rec to face St Andrews, where they lost 2-1. Cromer's starting line-up included new signings Matthew Banham, Shaun Lanchester and Jacob McCabe and also saw the return of Aaron Osborne, Neil Bugdale and David Hinton to the team.

Cromer began their league campaign with a trip to Thorpe Rec to face St Andrews, where they lost 2-1.

Cromer's starting line-up included new signings Matthew Banham, Shaun Lanchester and Jacob McCabe and also saw the return of Aaron Osborne, Neil Bugdale and David Hinton to the team.

The Crabs made a shaky start and were second best in most areas.

The hosts were dominating early proceedings but the first opportunity went to the north Norfolk side when Terrington flicked the ball on to Hinton whose

toe-poked effort was kept out by Coulton. Then Coulton reacted sharply to keep out Pipe's rebound.

The home side took the lead on 24 minutes when a corner from the left went into the near post area where it found an unmarked Ben Jerus, whose run was not tracked and he headed past Osborne.

Cromer continued to defend poorly and this allowed Pilgrim in behind, but he was forced wide by Osborne and then his shot was cleared off the line by Lanchester.

The Saints deserved the lead at the break and the Crabs needed to up their game all round if they were going to get anything from the match.

Cromer began the second half much brighter with more urgency and looked a threat going forward.

Pipe rose well in the box, his header came back off the bar, and a stretching Terrington put the rebound over from close range.

Terrington and Bugdale then linked up well and it ended with Bugdale firing towards goal, but his effort was blocked.

Despite a much better tempo to their play and causing more problems to the St Andrews defence, Cromer found themselves two down.

Cromer's defence was unlocked by a long ball forward which was allowed to bounce. This allowed Welham to nick the ball and close on goal before coolly slotting past Osborne.

The Crabs continued to push forward but chances were few. Horton found Terrington in the box whose header went just wide.

With two minutes remaining Cromer did grab a goal when St Andrews could only half clear Harwood's ball in and it fell to Pipe whose effort was palmed down, leaving Terrington with a simple tap-in.

It was too little to late for Cromer who, for second year running, suffered an away defeat in their opening game.

If they had perhaps started with the same urgency and tempo they finished with then they may have come away with a better result.