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Macron NCEL 2025/26 Match Review #67

29th March, 2026

We now know three of the four sides who will take part in this season's Premier Division Play-Offs after the weekend's Macron NCEL action with Beverley Town and Tadcaster Albion booking their places.

Beverley's berth was confirmed on Friday night as Campion's 0-0 home draw with champions Liversedge meant they could no longer finish outside the top five and they celebrated with a 5-1 win at home to Thackley the following day.

Two goals each for Glen Sani and Luka Suluburic were added to by an Andrew Norfolk strike after Hass Gorji had given the visiting Dennyboys a half-time lead, courtesy of a 44th minute opener.

Tadcaster secured their play-off spot as they won 4-0 at Sheffield who had already confirmed their slot in the showdown for promotion to Step 4, Desmond Okoro, Ryan Qualter, Charlie Owen and Matthew Mulhearn with the Brewers' goals.

Three teams will battle it out for the final place in the last round of matches for them next weekend with Barton Town currently in fifth position and knowing a point will be enough for them to stay there.

They drew 2-2 at Eccleshill United, Lewis Stephens and Fraser Papprill twice putting them ahead only to be pegged back on both occasions by Lewis Waddington for the Eagles.

Hoping the Swans slip up are Campion and Handsworth who will both need to win their final game to take advantage.

Handsworth kept their challenge alive with a 2-0 home victory over Bottesford Town, Ben Harriott and Mitchell Dunne with their goals, but they will need a big turnaround in goal difference next weekend to have any chance of finishing fifth.

Meanwhile, that loss for Bottesford has put them in trouble as the race to escape relegation also goes into the last round of matches.

The Poachers have dropped into the bottom two and now must win their final game to have any chance of avoiding a finish in the drop zone.

Victories for Rossington Main and Horbury Town moved them above Bottesford in a major boost in their quest to stay in the Premier Division.

Myron Gibbons' hat-trick and a Dylan Mantle strike helped Rossington to a 4-0 home win over Frickley Athletic whilst Gibril Bojang and Samuel Kyeremeh found the net for Horbury as they beat visitors Albion Sports 2-0.

It all means that should Bottesford win next weekend, one of the five sides above them - Thackley, Albion Sports, Horbury Town, Rossington Main or Eccleshill United, could be dumped into the bottom two if results go against them.

Elsewhere, in games where there was nothing to play for but pride, there were wins for Golcar United and Knaresborough Town whilst Pickering Town played out a 1-1 home draw with Penistone Church.

George Doyle struck twice for Golcar as they beat Parkgate 4-0 whilst Ben Gelder, Aaron White and Slater Barkham-Barnes got the goals for Knaresborough as they won 3-0 at already relegated Wombwell Town.

And, Souleymane Coulibaly's last gasp leveller rescued a point for the Pikes after Mackenzie Stocks had given Church an 82nd minute lead.

In Division One, the only thing confirmed after a full programme of matches on Saturday afternoon was Nostell Miners Welfare's finish in the relegation zone.

Needing to win all of their remaining four matches to have any chance of survival, they went down 2-1 at home to Armthorpe Welfare who are still harbouring hopes of a late charge into the play-off zone.

Charlie Austerfield restored parity for the hosts after Alfie Charlotte's opener but the win was confirmed in the 81st minute for Welfare through William Mendonca.

The play-off line-up still has only one club confirmed, Wakefield AFC who continued their preparations for the end of season showdown with a 2-1 win at Maltby Main, Akeel Francis and Owen Thomas with their goals whilst Curtis Morrison got on the scoresheet for the Miners.

Third-placed Worsbrough Bridge Athletic are practically there despite a 0-0 draw at Ilkley Town whilst Harrogate Railway Athletic won 3-0 at home to Goole AFC, courtesy of a goal from Alex Burton and a double from Alex Ingham, to virtually assure their spot in fourth.

But, Brigg Town tasted defeat, a 4-3 loss at South Leeds that means they are now only one point clear in fifth of the chasing pack, Dayle Hutson, Dylan Corbett and Adam Drury with their goals whilst Harley Blankley, Jamal Stewart, Warren Carr and Kieran Haigh netted for the hosts.

Leeds UFCA are now within touching distance of the play-off zone in sixth as Omar Sanyang's brace was added to by Finlay Ellis and Jaydan Sandhu as they won 4-0 at Appleby Frodingham whilst Route One Rovers and Club Thorne Colliery were also victorious as they chase a top-five finish.

Zak Khan's hat-trick for Rovers in their 6-3 home win over Selby Town takes him to 68 goals this season in all competitions and he is now just five short of the current record of 73 set by Flynn for Emley AFC ten years ago.

William Gomes got both of Thorne's goals as they beat hosts Louth Town 2-1 and they are now six points behind Brigg in eighth but with two games in hand.

With two of the three relegation places now settled, Winterton Rangers will now need to win both of their final games to have any chance of avoiding completing the set after their 1-0 loss at champions Dearne & District, Justin Circuit with the decider that puts Rangers in deep peril.

App-Frod and Louth can still be caught after their results at the weekend, as well as Athersley Recreation who drew 1-1 at Doncaster City, Jack Woodcock with their equaliser after Benjamin Dyer's penalty broke the deadlock for the home side.

Meanwhile, Crowle Colts have almost certainly secured a top-half finish after their 5-0 win at already-relegated Glasshoughton Welfare, Robert Guilfoyle's hat-trick helping them to a comfortable victory.

Photo: Ben Harriott celebrates Handsworth's opener in their 2-0 home win over Bottesford Town in the Macron NCEL Premier Division, a victory that keeps their faint play-off hopes alive whilst dumping their opponents into the relegation zone. (Picture: Ken Allsebrook)









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