Hartpury suffered a 2-1 defeat to Winchester City, opening the new Southern League Div One South season at the Charters Community Stadium on Saturday.
A second half brace from Oliver Balmer for Winchester overturned a first half Akai Bonnick finish to see the Citizens come away with all three points.
The Acorns had the first chance of the game on nine minutes when Vanylson Silva rifled an effort into the side netting from close range.
Straight down the end, Jez Bedford attempted an audacious lobbed effort for Winchester but his looped just over the bar.
Three minutes later Winchester captain, Callum Buckley, looped a headed effort inches wide of the post for the hosts.
The Acorns were denied the lead by the underside of the crossbar on 23 minutes when Billy Osborn saw his effort from close range rebound back of it following a Nathan Jenkins parried effort.
Osborn was denied again on 29 minutes by a smart low stop from Winchester goalkeeper, Tommy Scott, following a driven effort from 18-yards.
The hosts found themselves through on goal with Conor Lynch on 35 minutes by Acorns’ shot stopper, Ryan Smallwood, made himself big to deny the close ranged effort.
Smallwood was on hand again to keep Winchester out with an incredible low save to claw out a well-placed Tom Wright header on 43 minutes.
And right on the stroke of half time, the Acorns broke the deadlock when Bonnick picked up a loose ball at the back before rounding Scott and rolling home calmly.
First Half- Winchester City 0-1 Hartpury FC
Osborn had the opening chance of the second period for the Acorns but could only fire over from just outside the area on 53 minutes.
It was a slower start to the second period, but Winchester levelled the game on 61 minutes when Oliver Balmer poked underneath Smallwood at the front post.
The hosts almost went ahead on 66 minutes, but Bedford could only head over from close range.
And the hosts turned the game around on 72 minutes through a curling Balmer effort which nestled into the bottom corner.
Tomos Shyamapant tried to level the game for the Acorns on 80 minutes but saw his effort well stopped low by Scott.
Scott was on hand again to deny the Acorns when he got a strong left hand down to stop a driven Nathan Jenkins effort from inside the area on 83 minutes, seeing the game end with a Winchester win.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Acorns who return home to face Bristol Manor Farm at the 4ED Hartpury Stadium on Tuesday night.
Second Half- Winchester City 2-1 Hartpury FC
Starting XI- Smallwood, Kent, Kelly, Machisa, Sims, Aldridge, Bonnick, Jenkins, Osborn ©, Coates (Sanniola 79’), Silva (Shyamapant 74’)
Unused subs- Kovacevic (GK), Fusiek
Attendance- 282
