Life in League 1 began perfectly for Reds and boss Richie Barker as they beat Scunthorpe United 3-0 to sit top of League 1 after the opening weekend.
Gary Alexander opened his, and Reds', account for the season to give Barker's side the lead just after the half-hour mark before adding a second from the penalty spot in the second half.
Striker Jonathan Forte, who joined on loan yesterday from Southampton, scored Reds' third within minutes of coming on as a substitute.
Reds' boss named an unchanged side from the one that beat Millwall 4-1 on penalties on Tuesday night at the Den as new signings Nicky Ajose and Forte were named on the substitutes bench.
That also meant Kyle McFadzean and Claude Davis, who signed new contracts this week, were partnered together at the heart of Reds' defence.
And the momentum from that shootout win was certainly with Reds as they started brilliantly. Mat Sadler crossed for Nicky Adams to tee him Alexander, but the striker could only turn his effort over the bar.
Reds' captain was clearly in the mood and he went close again in the fifth minute from Adams' cross, but his header was well saved by Sam Slocombe in goal for the Iron.
It was all the home side, and again Reds went close minutes later as Clarke's low drive from 20 yards cannoned back off the post.
The visitors created their best chance of the opening exchanges on ten minutes as Christian Ribeiro slipped through Mike Grella, but his shot was comfortably saved by Paul Jones.
Reds continued to press in search of their opening goal of the season, as Alexander and then Hope Akpan went close, but just couldn't find a way through.
That was about to change moments later. Adams' free kick was headed onwards by Akpan, and ALEXANDER was on hand to tap the ball into the empty net for Reds' first ever goal in League 1.
The skipper was in the mood, and from Reds' next attack he went close again; heading inches wide from Adams' corner.
Scunthorpe had rarely threatened since Grella's strike, but almost levelled five minutes before half time after Jimmy Ryan's excellent run. Somehow though, the visitors were denied as Sadler prevented Grella from tapping the ball into an empty net from Ryan's cut back.
Dave Mirfin then had the Iron's best chance of the half but somehow fired wide from Josh Walker's corner.
The second half began slowly, but on the hour it burst into life as Reds were awarded a penalty after Alexander was fouled in the box.
ALEXANDER picked himself up and calmly sent Slocombe the wrong way to double Reds' advantage.
Akpan, excellent throughout pre-season had carried that form over, and almost got a goal for his efforts, firing over after weaving his way past three Scunthorpe defenders.
With 15 minutes remaining yesterday's signing FORTE replaced Clarke and made an immediate impact on his debut.
The Southampton striker latched onto a ball over the top and headed past the onrushing Slocombe to make it 3-0 to Reds.
Scunthorpe went in search of a route back into the game, and came within inches of making it 3-1, only for Davis to hack Mark Duffy's shot off the line.
Forte almost grabbed a second debut goal in the 84th minute, but he just couldn't get enough conviction on Adams' cross.
The visitors were reduced to ten men a minute later as Duffy received his second booking for a foul on substitute Sergio Torres.
Reds continued to press in search of a fourth, with substitute Ajose almost teeing up Forte, but in the end three was enough to ensure Reds end the opening day top of League 1.
Goals: Alexander 33, 64; Forte 79
Teams:
Reds: Jones, Connolly, Sadler, McFadzean, Davis, Simpson, Bulman (Torres, 82) , Akpan, Adams (Ajose, 87), Clarke (Forte, 73), Alexander. Subs not used: Kuipers, Hunt, Neilson, Cooper.
Scunthorpe: Slocombe, Ribeiro, Kennedy, Walker, Mirfin, Ryan, Grant, Grella, Barcham (Jennings, 78), Duffy, Newey. Subs not used: Severn, Gibbons, Canavan, Hughes, Howe, Keegan
Attendance: 3,172 (521)