The FA Trophy and FA Vase both opened their 2026/27 campaigns on Saturday 15 August, and the round threw up exactly the kind of tension these competitions are known for — including a real scare for the club that lifted the FA Vase itself just three months ago.

Defending Champions Survive on Penalties

AFC Stoneham, who won last season’s FA Vase final on penalties back in May, needed spot-kicks again just to get through round one this time. They drew 2-2 with Barnstaple Town before edging through 5-4 on penalties.

It’s a reminder of just how unforgiving these early rounds can be. Winning the whole competition means nothing once a new season starts — every club, however good their recent history, goes back to a level playing field in round one.

Notable Results From the Weekend

The FA Trophy preliminary round produced no major shocks among the bigger names, but plenty of tight, competitive matches. Hayes & Yeading United needed penalties to see off Jersey Bulls, winning 4-1 in the shootout after a 2-2 draw. Deal Town also needed spot-kicks, beating Hartley Wintney 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

Elsewhere, home advantage held up more often than not. Congleton Town beat Beverley Town 1-0, Boldmere St Michaels saw off Long Eaton United 2-0, and Herne Bay edged a five-goal thriller against Harrow Borough, winning 3-2. Barwell were the biggest winners on the day, putting four past Sporting Club Inkberrow in a 4-1 away win.

Why These Early Rounds Matter

Both competitions exist specifically for clubs outside the very top of English football’s non-league pyramid — the FA Trophy for teams at levels 5 to 8, and the FA Vase for clubs at levels 9 and 10. For most of the clubs involved this weekend, a cup competition like this is the only realistic route to a day out at Wembley, where both finals are played as part of Non-League Finals Day.

That stakes-without-safety-net setup is exactly why a club like AFC Stoneham, fresh off winning the whole thing, can find themselves in a penalty shootout against modest opposition in round one. Cup form and league form are two very different things, and every club in these competitions knows it.

What’s Next

The FA Trophy moves into its first round qualifying stage on Saturday 29 August, while the FA Vase’s second round qualifying follows on Saturday 12 September. For clubs that made it through this weekend, the reward is simple: one round closer to the kind of magic that makes non-league cup football worth following in the first place.