The Magpies kicked off the new 24/25 season with a 1-1 draw at The Avenue against Havant & Waterlooville.
Olaf Koszela's stunning 7th-minute strike put the hosts ahead before Callum Kealy hit back to earn a point for the visitors, with Will Spetch having to don the goalkeepers gloves for over 20 minutes following an injury to regular keeper Gerard Benfield.
With boss Tom Killick not in attendance due to illness, Glenn Howes led the side which saw Tom Bragg and Wayne Robinson make their first league starts for the club, while Wes Fogden also made his second debut following his return over the summer. Shaquille Gwengwe missed out through injury, as did fellow summer recruit Kyran Samadi.
It was the hosts who started brightly, with Jordan Ngalo and former Hawk Fogden both going close, before Koszela broke the deadlock with a powerful strike from around 20-yards out from Ollie Haste's lay off, firing the ball past the keeper and in off the underside of the bar.
Just 9 minutes later however the visitors equalised, breaking down the left wing and pulling the ball back to Kealy to slot home.
Luke Pardoe tested the keeper from range before Spetch went close from Corby Moore's corner at the back post, only to see his header blocked by a defender.
Koszela was then fouled just outside the box in a dangerous area, and it was the striker who took the free-kick which nearly found the top corner, only to be tipped just over the bar by the Havant keeper.
Into the second half, Ngalo saw his shot wide before a long ball over the top forced a race between Robinson and the Havant keeper, who just got to the ball first before the Magpies forward to clear downfield.
Havant did threaten at the other end, only for a good block from Spetch to deny them before Benfield saved well from close range.
With 81 minutes on the clock and after receiving treatment, Benfield had to be replaced in the Magpies goal, and with no recognised keeper on the bench, Ieuan Turner came on with Spetch taking over between the sticks.
Koszela almost won it late on, after Buse fed the striker who turned two Havant defenders only to see his fierce effort blaze just past the far post.
And Buse himself had a golden opportunity in the 90th minute, as Pardoe's neat through ball found Luke Roberts who rounded the Havant keeper before the midfielder struck, only to see his shot agonisingly cleared off the line.
With 9 added minutes signalled, Spetch was forced into action deep into stoppage time as Havant applied pressure, but the emergency keeper did well to save low down and secure a point.
Next up is our first away game as we travel to Tiverton Town on Tuesday night.
Starting XI: Benfield (Turner); Dickson, Bragg, Spetch, Haste; Moore, Ngalo [c] (Holmes); Pardoe (Hutchinson), Fogden (Buse), Robinson (Roberts); Koszela. Subs not used: N/A.
Referee: Paul Barber
Attendance: 620