In fact, they were second best for much of the time after James Brown marked his switch from midfield to attack with a super first-half double. Willie Boland and Ritchie Jones were also on the scoresheet, with Steven Gillespie getting two consolation strikes for the Us.
A seven-goal thriller marked the opening day of the season at Boundary Park as Oldham Athletic staged a brilliant recovery against Millwall.
The Latics looked dead and buried when they fell 3-1 behind to a confident visiting team, but Millwall captain Paul Robinson was sent off in the 73rd minute and his team fell apart.
Millwall spent most of the game in front as they made their breakthrough through Tresor Kandol with just 15 seconds on the clock. But the Latics halued themselves level with 10 minutes to go and Chris Taylor smashed home the winner to seal a 4-3 triumph.
Leicester City shook off last season's relegation hangover with a confident 2-0 win over MK Dons at the Walkers Stadium.
Matty Fryatt struck in each half for the Foxes, whose vibrant performance left Dons manager Roberto Di Matteo in no doubt of the hard work required from his team if they are to preserve their League One status.
The talismanic striker Adebayo Akinfenwa converted two second-half penalties inside four minutes for Northampton Town after having five stitches inserted in a head wound.
Akinfenwa was off the field for ten minutes early on while a head wound was sewn up, but he came back to help the Cobblers to a 4-2 victory over Cheltenham Town.
Defender Peter Clarke's first goal at Roots Hall saw Southend United get their season off to a winning start with a 1-0 win over newly-promoted Peterborough United.
Adam Boyd's penalty on the stroke of half-time gave Leyton Orient a winning start to their League One campaign as they despatched Hereford United 2-1.
Nicky Forster fired a last-minute winner as Brighton and Hove Albion won for the first time ever at Crewe Alexandra, leaving Cheshire with three points thanks to a 2-1 victory.
Stockport County's Tommy Rowe cancelled out Andy Booth's opener to deny Huddersfield Town a winning start to their centenary season in a 1-1 stalemate.
Andy Butler and Jim Goodwin, who made Bosman moves to the Terriers from Scunthorpe this summer, both played the full game.
Carlisle United registered an impressive 3-2 win at Bristol Rovers. Yeovil Town drew 1-1 with Walsall at Huish Park.