The Isuzu FA Vase for the 2025/26 season got underway at the weekend with fifteen Macron NCEL sides booking their place in Second Round Qualifying next month.

Pickering Town became the first to progress when Marshall Nock and Nathan Dyer struck in the second half for a 2-0 home victory over Horden Community Welfare in one of two ties played on Friday night.

South Leeds almost joined them in the evening's other game, having come from 2-0 down with goals from Mitchell Hamilton and Brandan Hughes-Miller to force a 2-2 draw with Barnton - the latter coming in stoppage time to take the encounter to a penalty shoot-out that, sadly, they lost 4-2.

Saturday's ties included three all-NCEL ties with Horbury Town, Goole AFC and Nostell Miners Welfare all beating league rivals to move into the next stage.

George Whittaker, Noel Nfonkey, Joe Jagger and Samuel Kyeremeh were the scorers for Horbury as they won 4-1 at Club Thorne Colliery, Harry Brown with the goal for the hosts.

Mitchell Carlton's opener for Goole was cancelled out by Max Leonard for home side Golcar United in a 1-1 draw that led to the Vikings going through 4-2 on penalties.

And, there were two goals each for Cyrus Rowe and Matthew Hughes as Nostell surprised their Premier Division hosts with a 5-2 victory that also saw Miguel Cassama get on the scoresheet whilst Mitchell Dunne and Scott Ruthven netted for Handsworth.

Elsewhere, Brigg Town came from 2-1 down to win 3-2 at home to Pilkington, Dayle Hutson and Alfie Usher turning the game around for the Zebras with the winner coming four minutes from time.

There were also home victories for Crowle Colts, Eccleshill United, Liversedge and Maltby Main to keep their flags flying in the competition.

Declan Bacon opened the scoring for Crowle and Henry Cook sealed the deal with an injury time penalty as they beat Maine Road 2-0 whilst Junior Nasihunu grabbed a late winner in a 1-0 win for Eccleshill over Guisborough Town.

It was also a single goal victory for Sedge, George Green with the vital strike against Cammell Laird 1907, and Main beat Stockport Georgians 2-1 with Curtis Morrison getting both of the Miners' goals.

Alfie Dean struck in stoppage time to snatch Tadcaster Albion a 2-1 win at Squires Gate after Oliver Green had equalised for the Brewers and four of our sides progressed away from home after penalty shoot-outs.

Doncaster City, Penistone Church and Knaresborough Town all prevailed 4-3 on spot kicks after Jack McKay had scored in a 1-1 draw for Doncaster at Abbey Hey and Kieran Ryan netted for Church as their game at FC St Helens ended with the same scoreline whilst Knaresborough drew 0-0 at Marske United.

Rossington Main, courtesy of goals from Elliott Andrew and Khalid Suleiman, played out a 2-2 draw at Litherland Remyca and then went through 5-4 on penalties after their entertaining tie.

However, there was disappointment in the other matches with Keelan Grist and Ifeanyi Nnenanua scoring for Worsbrough Bridge Athletic and Frickley Athletic as they were beaten 2-1 at Euxton Villa and 5-1 at home by Maghull, respectively.

Leeds UFCA went down 1-0 at Grangetown Boys Club, Kevin Gonzalez got on the scoresheet for Ilkley Town but they lost 6-1 at home to Newcastle Benfield, and Winterton Rangers were defeated 2-0 at Northwich Victoria.

Despite goals from Glen Sani, Luka Suluburic and Jason Chanayire, Beverley Town's participation ended with a 4-3 loss at Retford United whilst there were 3-0 defeats for Appleby Frodingham and Selby Town at Retford FC and Stockport Town, respectively.

And, there was one game on Sunday as Campion hosted Penrith and first half goals from Patrick Sykes and Ewan Gregson were followed by a late strike from Aiden Day to ensure a 3-1 win and make it a successful end to the weekend for the NCEL clubs in the competition.

There were three matches in the Premier Division on Saturday with Barton Town climbing to second as Ali Aydemir's 38th minute opener and Tyler Edwards' stoppage time strike securing a 2-0 home win over Thackley.

Wombwell Town have moved off the foot of the table with their first points of the season, Jordan Kershaw and Oli Robinson scoring in a 2-1 home win over Parkgate who pulled one back through an Alex Wonham penalty.

Albion Sports drop into bottom spot as they drew 2-2 at home with Sheffield, Nathan Cartman with a late equaliser for the Lions after Sumaili Cisse had put them ahead but Alexander Hardwick and Nathaniel Crofts gave the visitors the lead midway through the second half.

Dearne & District made it five wins out of six to go top of Division One, Adam Baskerville with a dramatic last gasp winner for his second of the afternoon as they beat Route One Rovers 2-1, Zak Khan netting for the visitors.

Harrogate Railway Athletic continued their excellent start to the season with a 1-0 win at Louth Town to climb to second, a point off the summit, Harris Eggleston with the 88th minute decider.

Armthorpe Welfare went into the weekend leading the standings but their 2-0 loss at home to Wakefield AFC on Friday night gave others the opportunity to leapfrog them, Akeel Francis with both of the away side's goals as they look to kickstart their campaign.

And, Gilles Foka's 72nd minute winner has moved Glasshoughton Welfare away from the bottom of the table as they won 2-1 at Athersley Recreation, William Mendonca with their other goal whilst Nathan Perks levelled for the hosts from the penalty spot.

Photo: Mitchell Dunne scores the first of Handsworth's goals during their 5-2 home loss to Macron NCEL rivals Nostell Miners Welfare in their First Round Qualifying tie in the Isuzu FA Vase. (Picture: Ken Allsebrook)