Five Toolstation NCEL sides were back in competitive action for the first time in over a month as Buildbase FA Vase matches were played behind closed doors on Saturday.

Hallam progressed to the Second Round whilst Liversedge and North Ferriby booked their places in the Third Round whilst Hemsworth Miners Welfare and Maltby Main sadly bowed out of the competition.

It was a whirlwind start at Sandygate as five of the game's seven goals came in the opening eighteen minutes with Max Pemberton putting hosts Hallam ahead against AFC Blackpool but the visitors quickly levelled.

The Countryman's top scorer Kieran Watson then struck twice, once from the penalty spot, to give the home side a 3-1 lead by the quarter-hour mark but, again, the visitors refused to lie down and halved their deficit.

Watson completed his hat-trick, taking his season's tally to thirteen in all competitions, on 34 to make it 4-2 and, although AFC Blackpool claimed a third from a spot kick just past the hour mark, Hallam went through with a 4-3 victory.

In the day's other First Round tie, Hemsworth went down 3-1 at Abbey Hey with their goal coming in stoppage time through Jason Davis after their hosts had secured an unassailable lead by the 66th minute.

In the Second Round, Liversedge came from behind to win 4-1 at Guisborough Town having trailed at the interval, with Alfie Raw equalising midway through the second period before Oliver Fearon, Paul Walker and Joe Walton all netted in the last seventeen minutes to secure safe passage to the next stage for Jonathan Rimmington's side.

They will be joined in the hat by North Ferriby who conceded first in their home clash with Lower Breck but battled back brilliantly to take a 2-1 victory with Iwan Heeley restoring parity before Benjamin Leyland kept the Villagers' FA Vase hopes alive with a winner fourteen minutes from time.

Maltby, however, were beaten 5-0 at Consett with four of the hosts' goals coming in the second period at a Belle View Stadium in County Durham that was empty, like all the rest of the day's ties, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Two games were postponed to next weekend due to waterlogged pitches, Grimsby Borough's trip to a Stourport Swifts side who had been given a bye to the Second Round after Skegness Town's decision to withdraw from the competition, and Penistone Church's visit to Longridge Town.

Three friendlies also took place with Worsbrough Bridge Athletic and Garforth Town going down to 1-0 defeats at Pontefract Collieries and Tadcaster Albion, respectively, whilst Parkgate drew 0-0 at another of our former sides Worksop Town.