 Round 1 - Sat 11th Aug to Sun 12th Aug) Taken from the NCEL website newsletter
Derbyshire reigned supreme in the Premier Division after the opening round of fixtures with four clubs from that county in the top five.
Glapwell lived up to their pre-season hype as one of the sides favourite for promotion to the UniBond as they beat visitors Armthorpe Welfare 5-2 to head the table.
They had gone behind thanks to a Stuart Preston goal before Ian Brown and Matt Varley had put them ahead by the break and Craig Mitchell had made it 3-1 on 59 minutes.
James Walker halved the deficit nine minutes later to keep the game interesting until substitute Marc Sherlock's late double secured the victory for the Hall Corner side.
Premier Division newcomers South Normanton Athletic are in second after a 3-0 win at Brodsworth Welfare.
An Nathan Parker goal and a brace from Michael Buckley saw Long Eaton United beat Maltby Main 3-1 with Craig Archer grabbing the consolation for the away side.
Selby Town were the only side to stop it being a Derbyshire top four as they won 3-1 at Glasshoughton Welfare.
Mickleover Sports complete the top five with a 2-0 victory at Eccleshill United on Sunday with strikes from Adam Betteridge and Richard Bailey.
There were also opening day victories for Liversedge and Parkgate.
Sedge were single goal winners at home to Thackley whilst a Caine Cheetham double saw last year's Division One champions Parkgate claim a 2-1 victory over visitors Arnold Town.
The remaining three top flight games finished level with Winterton Rangers and Pickering Town playing out a goalless draw, a last minute Paul Bedford strike saw Nostell Miners Welfare claim a 2-2 home draw with Shirebrook Town whilst Lincoln Moorlands Railway and Hallam shared six goals.
In Division One, five new sides were playing their first ever NCEL matches and all tasted defeat on the opening day.
The biggest crowd of the day was, as expected, at Carnarvon Street where over 400 people saw Scarborough Athletic's first competitive game.
But, it was the hosts Teversal who would take the points in a 2-1 win as a late Gavin Short goal claimed the points after Athletic's Dave Thompson had cancelled out an opening half strike by Dean Short.
Rainworth Miners Welfare were single goal losers in their match at home to Pontefract Collieries, but they were defeated in bizarre fashion.
A clearance by the Wrens on the hour mark struck the referee and bounced to the feet of Craig Elliott who converted the only goal of the game.
A last-minute Simon Roche goal was not enough for Bottesford Town as they went down 2-1 at Tadcaster Albion, Guiseppe Downing and Rob Ellis with the goals for the home side.
Barton Town Old Boys were beaten 4-0 at Hall Road Rangers with a Paul Palmer brace and one each for Jamie Barnwell and Chris Hudson doing the damage.
But, the biggest scoreline came at the Riverside Ground as Gedling Town put five past Leeds Met Carnegie without reply.
James Whitehead, Tim Wilks and Phil Massingham had put them three-up by the break before Ben Cobley and a second from Wilks ended the rout.
AFC Emley were the only Division One away winners as Antony Leech and Kyle Jones saw them claim a 2-0 victory at Borrowash Victoria.
And, Dinnington Town were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Worsbrough Bridge Athletic whilst it was the same scoreline between Yorkshire Amateur and Staveley Miners Welfare.
(Round 2 - Tue 14th Aug to Wed 15th Aug)
Glapwell have continued to be the early pacesetters in the Premier Division after their 3-1 win at Lincoln Moorlands Railway.
Ian Brown and Ian Streather had given them a two-goal advantage over the top flight newcomers at the break before Brown grabbed his second and the Hall Corner side's third on 53 minutes.
Railway then grabbed a consolation through Nick Robinson with five minutes remaining.
That was one of eight Premier Division matches played to a finish in midweek whilst the match between Brodsworth Welfare and Selby Town had to be called off at half-time due to floodlight failure with the score goalless.
The only other team to have played two and won two are Long Eaton United with Ben Roffey's 46th-minute strike claiming all three points at home to Arnold Town.
Last season strugglers Shirebrook Town have had a far better start this time round as a Jamie Smith hat-trick helped them to a 4-0 home win over Thackley to move up into third, Martin Rowbottom grabbed the fourth in the final minute.
And, Winterton Rangers were 3-0 victors over visitors Parkgate in a clash between two promoted sides.
A David Ricardo brace with a third from Rob Northen gave them the three points that sees them climb into fourth.
Eccleshill United picked up their first points of the new campaign with a convincing 4-0 win at Glasshoughton Welfare, a result that leaves Welfare at the bottom of the table.
It was goalless at half-time before a Chris Rosindale penalty and Andy Howland strike had them two-up by the hour mark.
And, both players grabbed a second to make it a comfortable night for the Eagles.
Strikes from Craig McCormick and Mike Taylor saw Maltby Main pick up three points with a 3-0 home victory over Hallam whilst there was late drama in the remaining two matches.
Liam Muirhead struck the only goal of the game in the 90th minute as Armthorpe Welfare won at Liversedge.
And, Joe Connor's penalty in injury time saw Pickering Town pick up a point in a 1-1 draw at Nostell Miners Welfare.
It had started promisingly for Welfare with Ben Gilbert giving them the lead in the opening seconds but the hosts had two players sent off and they just couldn't hold on for their first ever Premier Division victory.
Meanwhile, Hall Road Rangers will be at home to Borrowash Victoria next week in the second round of the Wilkinson Sword Trophy.
Rob Petch's strike in the first minute of the second period of extra time saw them claim a 3-2 win over visitors Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.
Rangers had been two goals down as Chris Boreham and Kelvin Ryan had put Athletic in a strong position.
Matt Spencer pulled one back before the interval and Paul Palmer scored halfway through the second period to force another thirty minutes.
(Round 3 - Fri 17th Aug to Sun 19th Aug)
The FA Cup was the main focus for NCEL clubs on the second weekend of the season as 31 teams from the league took part in the Extra Preliminary Round.
There were six all-NCEL ties with first being the FA-designated Tie Of The Round that saw Dinnington Town win 2-1 at home to Maltby Main.
Ashley Longstaff had put Main ahead on 31 minutes before Kiearan Gallagher levelled matters with nineteen minutes remaining and Ant Lynam gave the hosts the victory soon after.
Parkgate also have bragging rights having won 3-2 at Brodsworth Welfare whilst Glasshoughton Welfare were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Liversedge and Pontefract Collieries and Selby Town must replay after a goalless draw.
A Paul Palmer hat-trick helped Hall Road Rangers to a comfortable 6-1 win over visitors Tadcaster Albion.
And, two penalties, one each for Rob Northen and Danny Clarke helped Winterton Rangers to a 3-2 victory at home to Armthorpe Welfare.
There are four other replays to take place this midweek after Glapwell were held 2-2 by Dudley Town at Hall Corner while it was the same scoreline for Rossington Main at home to Atherton Collieries.
Mark O'Dea's late strike earned ten-man Arnold Town a replay after a 1-1 draw at Shifnal Town and Teversal must play again after sharing four goals with Coventry Sphinx.
Teams that have booked their place in the Preliminary Round include Mickleover Sports and Pickering Town who won 4-1 at Tividale and 3-1 at Washington, respectively.
Malc Brown, Adam Lillie and Glen Nattriss helped Rainworth Miners Welfare win 3-0 at Nuneaton Griff whilst a Rob Cam brace saw Hallam notch up a 2-0 victory against Nelson.
Gedling Town were 3-1 victors at Cradley Town whilst Valadmir Santos Farrell grabbed the only goal in South Normanton Athletic's win at home to Lye Town.
Meanwhile, the FA Cup dream is over for Borrowash Victoria, Bottesford Town, Yorkshire Amateur, Lincoln Moorlands Railway, Shirebrook Town and Thackley.
There were two matches in NCEL Division One with Barton Town Old Boys and Scarborough Athletic both picking up their first ever wins in the League and both by a 4-1 scoreline.
Barton won at home to Worsbrough Bridge Athletic whilst two goals from Matty Kennett helped Athletic move up into third place after two games.
Full newsletter can be downloaded from the NCEL Website www.ncel.org.uk
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