A new look FC Halifax Town, in more ways than one, started the new season in perfect fashion with a 2-1 win over Buxton.
The club's new shirts were finally unveiled, and their first eleven incumbents were fairly new as well, with five of the starting XI making their debuts.
And it was three of the new boys that produced Town's opening goal of the 2010/11 campaign. After a nervy first few minutes when Buxton threatened to spoil the show, the Shaymen pounced on a loose ball in midfield after 12 minutes before Simon Garner found Jamie Vardy in space on the left. Vardy cut inside and crossed for Danny Holland to bundle home from close-range.
The players and fans' tails were up now, and Vardy was involved again seven minutes later, cutting in from the left flank and passing to the unmarked Winter on the edge of the area, who unleashed a crashing drive that bounced off the bar but fell just in-front of the line before being cleared for a corner.
Buxton still offered enough of a threat at the other end to ensure Town didn't relax too much though, with forward Mark Reed showing some decent touches. The flow of the game wasn't helped by a couple of injury stoppages to Buxton players in the first half-an-hour, with the away side probably thankful for the a brief respite from the action.
Given the chance, Town played some nice stuff, with some good interplay between midfield and attack as Holland effectively dropped off the front-line and Nick Gray up to his usual tricks on the right.
The bright opening was slightly soured by a couple of sloppy passes from Garner and Hogan, the latter's leaving Jonathan Hedge in no-man's land after coming out to clear, but striker Keiran Lugsden fluffed his chance by shooting wide of the open goal from 20 yards out.
Holland's aerial presence was evident on 41 minutes when he flicked on to Gray who was clean through on goal, but his reluctance to shoot let Joe Wilcox back in to clear.
Visiting 'keeper Scott Hartley was treated by the physio again just before half-time after a mid-air collision with Vardy, and was clearly still suffering the effects shortly after receiving treatment when he mistakenly picked up a back pass after good work from Holland and Aaron Hardy down the right.
From the resulting free-kick, complete with the entire Buxton side stretched along the goal-line, Holland's first effort was blocked before his headed rebound touched the top of the bar on its way over.
The second-half began like the first, with Buxton on the front-foot, and almost levelling the scores with a back post header from a corner, but Hedge saved well on the line. That proved to be a warning as three minutes later, a Buxton free-kick found Michael Towey in the box, who controlled before firing beneath Hedge from four yards out.
It could have been two in as many minutes for the visitors when a left-wing cross found Lugsden unmarked, but his header was deflected wide with the goal gaping.
Town's position of strength before half-time had turned to vulnerability as Buxton seemed revitalised by their equaliser.
Aspin introduced another two debutants, Scott Metcalfe and Nathan Taylor, just after the hour mark in an attempt to regain the upper hand after an improved second-half showing from Buxton.
A game that had lost some of its edge suddenly burst back into life with 15 minutes to go when Hardy's superbly weighted through ball found the run of Vardy, who took his time before coolly slotting past Hartley to send Town in-front somewhat against the run of play.
However, they were almost pegged back immediately when Buxton's superiority in the air saw them send a header seemingly flying towards the top corner but for an excellent goal-line clearance by Hardy to complete an outstanding couple of minutes from the full-back.
With Buxton's efforts to equalise becoming more desperate, it was perhaps inevitable that the yellow cards being dished out throughout the afternoon may turn to red, and they did when captain Gregg Anderson was sent-off for a brutal elbow on James Riley, who subsequently had to be taken off.
Another clear foul shortly afterwards on Vardy resulted in a penalty being awarded, but Holland's effort from the spot was comfortably saved by Hartley diving to his left as the 10-man away side were given a reprieve.
But, Town held on comfortably to start life in the Evo-Stik Premier as they'll mean to go on.
FC Halifax Town: Hedge, Hardy, Bower ©, Baker, Riley (Plummer 85), Hogan, Gray (Taylor 69), Winter, Holland, Vardy, Garner (Metcalfe 61). Subs Not Used: Senior, Marshall
Goalscorers: Holland (12), Vardy (75)
Shots On Target: 4, Shots Off Target: 7, Corners: 9
Buxton: Hartley, Black, Ridley, Wilcox, Anderson ©, Maxfield, Askey (Stevens 61), Towey, Reed, Lugsden (Liversedge 85), Hunter (Morris 78). Subs Not Used: Wild, Backhouse
Goalscorers: Towey (58)
Shots On Target: 5, Shots Off Target: 5, Corners: 4
Attendance: 1,756
Tom Scargill
