Football Far North Coast's Premier League's shortened season began with a local derby that really was a tale of two halves.

Lismore Thistles, under new coach Nick Winkler-Maloney, played hosts to Goonellabah FC, under Michael Primiano. Both young men have the blood of the clubs running through their veins.

Goonellabah lost Chris Clarke before the match after an adverse reaction to a spider bite at work but otherwise the two sides were at full strength.

"It was a really good first half from us and the boys did exactly what I wanted us to do, which was put them under pressure at the back," Winkler-Maloney said.

Primiano agreed that the Thistles looked good in the first half.

"We were too happy to watch them have possession instead of trying to make them force errors," Primiano said.

"We certainly had our chances to score but a few good saves by their keeper pretty much gave us the message they weren't going to give them to us and we had to be more effective in front of goal."

Thistles opened the scoring in the 40th minute when Jye Wilson beat a defender on the byline and cut it back to Isaac Essery for a good finish.

Goalscorers: The Hornets' Tom Pitman and Lismore Thistles' Isaac Essery. Photo: Steve Mackney / Football Far North Coast

Scoring just before half-time often demoralises an opponent and invigorates the scorers but the Hornets look made of sterner stuff under their new coach.

"I pretty much reminded the boys at half-time to stick to our game plan, which was not happening in the first half. We had to stop watching them and begin to try and force them into errors," said Primiano.

Goonellabah came out with more intent in the second half and began winning tackles and beating their opponents to the ball.

Three goals came within eight minutes, all from the Hornets.

"Our first goal was scored by Nelson Cheli, off a corner," said Primiano.

"Then Tommy Pitman got on the end of a cross into the goalmouth to score our second.

""Then Aaron Kelly received a cross into the middle of the park, drove forward into the six-yard box and shot into the back of the net."

Winkler-Maloney said that the Hornets took their three good chances and that eventually was the difference.

"We kept pushing and had a couple of good chances that could easily have went in," he said.

"There was also a penalty shout, which did not go our way, in the first-half but credit o Goonellabah. They are a good side.

"We now get ready for next week."

Goonellabah FC, who are already in the final of the ANZAC Day Cup, host Maclean in another Premier League clash at Weston Park, Goonellabah, on Tuesday, with a 7pm kick-off.

Lismore Thistles: Eamonn Wilde; Tyler Szczerbanik, James Hunt, Nick Rhodes, Jeremy Sullivan; Kaleb Gooley, Joel Worgan, Dean Marshall, Isaac Essery, Jye Wilson, Callan Sivewright. Substitutes: Matthew Wicks, Mitchell Beardrow and Wil Parsons

Goonellabah FC: Brad Robertson; Brady Toniello, Sam Cheli, Nelson Cheli, Andy McCalman; Will McCalman, Yusmel Mustelier, Izac Monsuere,; Tom Pitman, Fraser Harrison, Wayne Gordon, Substitutes: Aaron Kelly, Reggie Sharpe, Nick Elliott and Kye Smith.

Premier League Round 1

Lismore Thistles 1 Goonellabah 3, John Ryan Field

Alstonville v Bangalow, Crawford Park, Saturday, 3pm;

Lismore Richmond Rovers v Maclean, Bill Harris Field, 5pm;

South Lismore v Byron Bay, Sunday, 2:30pm;

South Lismore v Alstonville, South Lismore, Tuesday, 8pm;

Goonellabah v Maclean, Weston Park, 8pm.