The first qualifying round of this season’s Isuzu FA Vase competition took place this past weekend and, of the dozen Nottinghamshire-based sides taking part at this stage, eight progressed, of which three were via penalties.

Of the three that went to penalties, Eastwood’s stood out thanks to their shot-stopper, Scott Loach, who not only made three saves in the shoot-out, also stepped up to convert the deciding spot-kick as he side progressed to the next round.

Away to Skegness Town, it would be the hosts that led midway through the first half, from the penalty pot, Matt Clarke converting after 24 minutes; the equaliser arrived just quarter of an hour later when Tyler Blake capitalised on a mistake at the back, and slotted the ball into an empty net.

Level at the break, the visitors came close to doubling their lead within minutes of the restart, Gbopo striking the crossbar, but neither side could muster a match-winning effort, that came in the dreaded shoot-out instead.

With both sides converting their first two penalties, Loach then proceeded to save three of the next four he faced, before stepping up himself to take Eastwood’s sixth, and send the Red Badgers through to the second qualifying round.

EASTWOOD – Scott Loach, Tony Gbopo, Louis Nicholson, Thomas Marshall (capt; Ryan Wilson, 43), Harry Wood (Kieren Fenton, 88), Connor Dimaio, Ravernelle James, Curtis Thompson (Callum Chettle, 77), Tyler Blake, Jamie Walker (Luke Rawson, 74), Patrick Webb (Jordan Hallam, 66)

Other results in the opening round of the FA Vase saw Southwell City progress via a shoot-out following a 1-1 draw of their own, away to Leicester St. Andrews, Shirebrook Town won 4-0 at Holwell Sports as Kian Tansley bagged a brace, and Josiah Puleston netted a hat-trick in West Bridgford Colts’ 4-1 home win over local rivals Gedling Miners Welfare.

Stapleford Town scored twice late on to ease past hosts Pinchbeck United 3-0, Hucknall Town won 3-1 at home to Aylestone Park, and AFC Mansfield edged visiting Kimberley Miners Welfare 3-2, Ryan Ingram netting in each half for the victors.

The third shoot-out win saw Retford also reach the next round, seeing off visitors Euxton Villa, after the pair shared four goals with Aaron Sennett-Neilson, and a stoppage time leveller from Brad Hextall, keeping the Choughs in the hunt.

Ahmed Tahar netted the decisive penalty for the Choughs as they netted all six of theirs, visiting Villa missing the decisive, twelfth spot-kick; elsewhere, there was exits for Selston, 1-0 at home to Heanor Town, and Sandiacre Town, 1-0 at home to Harrowby United.

In league action, Worksop Town followed up their opening day road win, with a home win over Telford United in the National League North.

Kian Harratt netted for the Tigers midway through the first half, whilst Aleksandrs Starcenko grabbed what proved the decider in a 2-1 win, as the game headed towards the final twenty minutes.

There was zero joy for the two local sides in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, Carlton Town losing 2-0 at home to Nuneaton Town, and Basford United suffering a 5-1 loss against visitors Wellingborough Town, whilst Retford United suffered a loan goal loss at home to Bottesford Town in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.

Action in the United Counties League saw both Newark Town and Sherwood Colliery win on the road in the Premier North, 3-1 at Leicester Nirvana, and 2-1 at Hinckley respectively, whilst in Division One, Clipstone made it five-form-five to go top after a 3-1 success against visiting Sleaford Town.

Remaining games in the UCL would see Dunkirk win 2-1 at Louth Town, and Clifton All Whites suffer a 4-1 loss away at South Normanton Athletic.

RHP Sports and SJR Worksop both registered 2-0 wins in the Central Midlands Alliance Premier North, RHP doing so against visiting AFC Phoenix, and SJR away to Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves, with Worksop Town Reserves winning 2-1 at Glapwell.

Other results saw Ollerton Town beaten 2-0 at Burgrave United, and Teversal losing 1-0 at home to Bentley in the North, alongside defeats for Blidworth Welfare, 6-0 at Bakewell Town, and Linby Colliery Welfare, 2-0 at home to FC Sunnyhill.

As for the Nottinghamshire Football League, Woodthorpe Park Rangers and Beeston have maximum points from the opening three games after both won on the road on Saturday, the former, 4-1 at Rainworth Miners Welfare, and the latter, 3-2 at Southwell City Reserves.

Promoted Meden Vale Colts are unbeaten in third following a 2-0 home win over Bingham Town, whilst there were also successes for Awsworth Villa, Stapleford Town Reserves, Wollaton, and under the Friday Night Lights, Collingham’s 3-0 win over visitors Newark & Sherwood United.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @EastwoodTownFC Scott Loach saved three and scored in the shootout win over Skegness.