MANAGER Ian Long thinks there is plenty more to come after Tividale got their season off to a winning start.

Newly-promoted Tivi returned with three hard-fought points after travelling to take on Lincoln United on the opening day of the season in Division One South of the Northern Premier League.

Long said: "It was a fantastic start to the season. The players were brilliant.

"I would have been happy to get our first point, but to take all three really takes the pressure off.

"I think there is still a lot of improvement to come from the players as well. Now that competitive games are coming think and fast we should get sharper as the weeks go on."

Against Lincoln, the outfit from The Beeches overcame a slow start to the contest to bag a 3-1 win.

The home side dominated the first 30 minutes, with Danny Brooks, Bruno Holden and Michael Jacklin have a series of long-range shots saved by in-form keeper Charlie Price.

Tivi grew into the game as the half went on and took a lead into the break when a 40-yard Zac Foster free kick on 39 minutes deceived everyone and looped over the head of United’s keeper Robert Peet on 39 minutes.

However, 12 minutes into the second half the scores were level when an unmarked Sean Wright tucked away a neat header from a Lincoln free kick.

After the setback of the equaliser, Tividale took the game to their opposition.

The game turned in favour of Tividale when manager Ian Long brought on Jordan Archer for Leigh Downing on 65 minutes.

Archer made an immediate impact as latched onto a ball down the left flank, outpaced his defender and squared for Mitchell Botfield to coolly sidefoot home past Peet from 15 yards.

Archer was again the key man for the third goal in injury time, beating the offside trap and slotting home.

Tividale were due to take on promotion contenders Coalville Town at home last night.

They will then welcome Sheffield to The Beeches this Saturday (3pm kick off).

Long added: "We are going to be underdogs in nearly every game we play this season and will have to battle hard for every point.

"Our main aim is to establish ourselves in this division. The players performed really well after a slow start and Jordan Archer made a big impact from the bench. We can now look to build on that."

Long confirmed that he has put in seven days' notice for Lye's James Spray and Chasetown's Jazz Luckie.

The Tivi boss is keen to bolster his attacking options for the new campaign after the loss of Nathan Waite to Chasetown.