The new look Town team took time to settle and it was 20 minutes into the game before they created their first opening when Stuart Leafe had a snapshot saved by Clark after good work by Paul Watts.
Craig Wherry then had to save at the feet of home forward, Bleally from Welbeck's only first half chance, before Gaz Flint shot wide for Town after good link up play with Kirt Connley.
The start of second half was a little more open as first Ben Davison flashed a header narrowly wide from a Jason Callaby free-kick and then Craig Wherry was called into action at the other end, saving from Pickering.
Paul Watts then drilled a right foot shot across Clark but unfortunately for him, just wide of the far post after a good through ball from Kirt Connley.
With 25 minutes to play and with Town unable to force a breakthrough despite enjoying the lions share of the possession, manager Paul Walden introduced all three of his substitutes.
Almost immediately his side looked more threatening, yet it was Craig Wherry who was called upon to make the save of the game, reacting smartly to tip over a Ridgeway header from point blank range.
Two of the substitutes, Ryan Aglin and Jamie Rowbotham, then combined to set Paul Watts free down the inside left channel but having opened up his body, frustratingly saw his shot fly over.
The experienced striker did not have long to wait to open his league account for his new club however when he scored to break the deadlock with 10 minutes to play.
The goal came from the most direct route possible when a long goal kick from Craig Wherry was headed on by Ryan Aglin and as the ball dropped over his shoulder, Watts spectacularly vollied into the roof of the net.
Town saw out the final few minutes with few scares to get the new campaign up and running with a deserved 3 points.
Town play their first home game of the season on Saturday when Bentley Colliery are the visitors to Park Avenue, kick-off 3pm.
Team: Wherry, Callaby, Casey, Walden (Capt), Davison, Haywood, Winter, Crossley, Watts, Leafe, Flint. Subs: Rowbotham, Anglin, Hutton