Golcar United, Silsden AFC and Horbury Town enjoyed comfortable home victories as the 2024/25 NCEL season got underway on Friday night.

Alfie Wilkinson's opener was added to by a Daniel Naidole penalty, a Ryan Hall strike and an own goal as Golcar beat visitors Penistone Church 4-1 in the Premier Division.

Church, who grabbed an early second-half consolation through Nathan Keightley, played most of the game with ten men after keeper Harry Ambler was red carded in the opening period.

Silsden, meanwhile, were 3-0 victors over Campion as Kayle Price's early opener was added to in the final ten minutes by Luke Brooksbank and Casey Stewart to give the scoreline a more comfortable reading for the hosts.

In Division One, Horbury beat Nostell Miners Welfare 4-0, Gibril Bojang netting twice with Joseph Angell and Jack Leach also getting on the scoresheet to make it a winning start for the hosts.

And, in Friday's other game, ten-man Worsbrough Bridge Athletic battled to a goalless draw at Athersley Recreation after Ellis Durose had been dismissed.

The remaining NCEL sides all played on Saturday with varying fortunes for the two sides who were promoted into the Premier Division.

Taylor Nicholson, Jamie Austin and Harry Day were the scorers as Parkgate were 3-0 home winners over Goole AFC.

But, despite an equalising penalty from Daniel Earl, Beverley Town went down 2-1 at Thackley, Finn Donovan scoring both of the Dennyboys' goals.

Winterton Rangers' return to the NCEL started with a 2-0 loss to visitors Handsworth, Brandon Bagley's first half strike followed by Scott Ruthven netting the Ambers' second with a quarter of the game remaining.

James Knowles, Elliott Andrew and Alfie Dean ensured a winning start for Tadcaster Albion as they won 3-0 at home to Bottesford Town whilst a Harry Jessop brace helped Pickering Town to a 4-2 victory at Frickley Athletic.

George Brown and Wayne Brooksby added to the Pikes' tally with Jack Varley and Luke Williams getting on the scoresheet for the hosts.

Ross Hannah twice brought Rossington Main level in a 2-2 draw at Eccleshill United who had taken the lead through Joshua McKiernon and then Harvey Booth.

And, there was a goalless encounter between Barton Town and Albion Sports as well as at Hallam's trip to Knaresborough Town.

Meanwhile, in the much-changed Division One, Appleby Frodingham and Club Thorne Colliery marked their return to the NCEL with victories.

Nathan Jarman's 80th minute winner saw Appleby Frodingham triumph 3-2 at Armthorpe Welfare in a game where they were pegged back level from being 2-0 up.

Kurtis Gollings and Ryan Bonser had given them the advantage by the interval but Mitchell Pattinson and Andrew Wright ensured parity was restored in the second period before the away side's late third.

And, Thorne also struck late through Adam Baskerville and Szymon Czubik in a 3-1 home win over Wakefield AFC after Ben Gelder had put the away side ahead and Joe Pugh's leveller came from the penalty spot.

Ilkley Town's move across from the North West Counties League began in the best way possible as Kevin Gonzalez and Toby Marriott scored as they beat relegated visitors Maltby Main 2-0.

Shelley, who followed Ilkley over to the NCEL, drew 0-0 in a tight game at Glasshoughton Welfare in their second game of the weekend after a 6-1 home friendly defeat to Huddersfield Town U18s on Friday.

The other two new clubs, Dearne & District and South Leeds, moved up from the Feeder Leagues with Dearne starting with a point in a 1-1 home draw with Swallownest, Jake Phillips' opener for them cancelled out by Alex Wonham.

South Leeds had a stormy start as they were reduced to nine men early in the second period of their 4-1 loss at Dronfield Town.

Max Rhodes and Charlie Stewart had given the hosts a 2-1 half-time lead, sandwiching a James Law penalty, before Rhodes' second and Mark Fereday's strike saw Dronfield confirm the victory after the dismissals of Khamis Jacob and Kieran Telford.

Elsewhere, there were opening weekend wins for Wombwell Town, Harrogate Railway Athletic and Yorkshire Amateur.

Edward Agnew and Gavin Allott scored for Wombwell as they beat hosts Brigg Town 2-0 whilst a Desmond Okoro double added to Michael Morris' opener as the Rail won 3-0 at home to Selby Town.

And, the Ammers triumphed 3-1 at Louth Town, Harry Abson, Noel Nfonkey and Taylor Ragan finding the net before a consolation from Alfie Usher for the White Wolves.

Photo: Elliott Andrew scores on his debut for Tadcaster Albion in their 3-0 home win over Bottesford Town in the NCEL Premier Division on Saturday. (Picture: Keith Handley)