Match Reviews for
Macron NCEL 2025/26 Match Review #69
5th April, 2026
A dramatic final day for all but two sides in the Macron NCEL Premier Division on Saturday saw Albion Sports end the campaign in the relegation zone whilst Barton Town confirmed the final spot in the promotion play-offs.
Bottesford Town began the day in the bottom two and knew only a win at home to second-placed Beverley Town would give them a chance of escaping the drop - and that is exactly what they did as Luke Ayris' 23rd minute opener was added to late on by Jonathan Nyantou in a 2-0 victory.
As games entered injury time, it was Thackley who were in trouble as they were 3-2 down at home to Eccleshill United in a game that had been 2-2 at the interval, Lewis Sugden and Keanen Mannings with the home side's goals whilst Zackary Sangster and Stevie Ellix had struck for the Eagles.
Lewis Waddington had put the visitors ahead on the hour mark and it looked as though the Dennyboys were consigned to relegation until Hass Gorji popped up in injury time to score one of his side's most important goals in their history to keep them in the Premier Division with a 3-3 draw.
That goal put them above Sports, who were also drawing 3-3, on one goal difference but then the Lions conceded again to lose 4-3 at home to Golcar United meaning Sports finished a point away from safety at the end of a breathless day of action.
Nathan Cartman had given them a first-half lead before Ryan Wadsworth and Rhomani Murray struck to put the visitors 2-1 up but the game was turned on its head again as Ellis Wade and Mohammed Qasim put the home side 3-2 ahead.
Ashley Flynn levelled matters once more and it looked as though a point in a 3-3 draw would be enough for Sports before the news came through of Thackley's equaliser that put them in peril and then they conceded the fourth from Kallum Reed to confirm their sad fate.
At the other end of the table, Barton knew that a point at home to basement side Wombwell Town would have secured them a top-five finish but they made fully sure as they beat their visitors 3-1, Lewis Stephens' double added to by Thomas Waudby whilst Liam Owen struck an equaliser for the away side.
In the end, the two sides chasing them for that spot were both unable to get the wins they needed to have any chance of toppling Barton, Campion drawing 1-1 at Parkgate whilst Handsworth went down 4-2 at Tadcaster Albion.
Shay Muirhead struck an equaliser for Campion after Harry Day had put the Steelmen ahead whilst William Marshall, Oliver Norman and Jayden Thompson added to an Owen Haigh own goal as the Brewers go into the play-offs in fine form.
Ben Harriott and Brandon Bagley got the goals for the Ambers who end the season in seventh whilst Campion finish in sixth.
Elsewhere, the other sides looking nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone picked up results that secured their safety.
Rossington Main, who had only a remote chance of finishing in the bottom two, put any doubts to bed as they won 2-1 at Knaresborough Town, Mackenzie Warne and Masai Arbouin with their goals with Jack Dyche scoring a late consolation for the hosts.
And, Horbury Town picked up a point with a 1-1 draw at Frickley Athletic, Gibril Bojang's deadlock-breaker for them cancelled out in injury time by Charlie Clegg, and that leaves them in sixteenth.
Champions Liversedge won 2-0 at home to Pickering Town, George Green and Kelan Swales with their goals, and they conclude their season with a trip to Knaresborough next weekend in the division's outstanding game.
Meanwhile, Sheffield were beaten 1-0 at Penistone Church, James Young's 31st minute penalty proving to be the difference, but they finish third and will host Tadcaster in next Saturday's semi-finals of the Premier Division play-offs, the other tie seeing Beverley at home to Barton.
In Division One, Winterton Rangers' finish in the bottom three was confirmed as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Louth Town, Will Pennell with the 49th minute winner that means Rangers will now have to wait to see if there is a reprieve from relegation for them in the summer.
In the race for the final play-off spot up for grabs, Leeds UFCA won 2-0 at home to Maltby Main to keep themselves in the coveted fifth spot, Adam Jones and Liam Burt's goals in quick succession early in the match proving to be enough.
They stay two points clear of Brigg Town who won 4-1 at home to relegated Nostell Miners Welfare, Joshua Batty with all of the Zebras' goals whilst Cooper Hall found the net for the visitors.
And, the only other side who can end the campaign in the top five suffered an almost fatal blow to their hopes as Route One Rovers were beaten 1-0 at third-placed Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, Keelan Grist with the decider in the 41st minute.
So, with two games left in their season, UFCA are big favourites to finish fifth as Brigg only have one match remaining to usurp them whilst Rovers are six points behind with two fixtures to go for them.
Champions Dearne & District are still on target to reach the 110-point mark as they won 5-1 at Goole AFC, a double each from Adam Baskerville and Jamie Austin helping them to another comprehensive victory on their travels.
Second-placed Wakefield AFC continue their hunt to secure a home tie in the play-off semi-finals with a 2-0 home win over Ilkley Town in Friday night's game, Akeel Francis' brace meaning they keep a gap between themselves and the two sides that could still overtake them.
Worsbrough are four points behind with two games in hand whilst Harrogate Railway Athletic's 2-0 victory at Crowle Colts, James Eyles and Alex Burton with the goals, keeps them in touching distance in fourth.
Elsewhere, Appleby Frodingham stormed to a 5-1 home win against Doncaster City to secure their safety no matter what happened elsewhere, Joshua Fraiwald, Nathan Jarman, Gareth Barlow, Jordan Spencer and Ryan Bonser with their goals.
Selby Town tighten their grip on a top-half finish after their 5-0 defeat of relegated visitors Glasshoughton Welfare, Harry Clapham's first-half double added to in the final twenty minutes by Maximillian Bauer, Joseph Rawcliffe and Harry Douglas.
Michael Dunn struck a hat-trick for Armthorpe Welfare as they won 4-1 at home to Appleby Frodingham, the visitors though knowing their Division One future was secured despite the defeat.
And, it ended goalless between Club Thorne Colliery and their visitors South Leeds and they are ninth and twelfth, respectively.
Photo: James Beaston in action in his 100th and final game for Knaresborough Town before his retirement - a game that ended in a 2-1 home loss to Rossington Main in the Macron NCEL Premier Division on Saturday. (Picture: Graham Finney Photography)
Bottesford Town began the day in the bottom two and knew only a win at home to second-placed Beverley Town would give them a chance of escaping the drop - and that is exactly what they did as Luke Ayris' 23rd minute opener was added to late on by Jonathan Nyantou in a 2-0 victory.
As games entered injury time, it was Thackley who were in trouble as they were 3-2 down at home to Eccleshill United in a game that had been 2-2 at the interval, Lewis Sugden and Keanen Mannings with the home side's goals whilst Zackary Sangster and Stevie Ellix had struck for the Eagles.
Lewis Waddington had put the visitors ahead on the hour mark and it looked as though the Dennyboys were consigned to relegation until Hass Gorji popped up in injury time to score one of his side's most important goals in their history to keep them in the Premier Division with a 3-3 draw.
That goal put them above Sports, who were also drawing 3-3, on one goal difference but then the Lions conceded again to lose 4-3 at home to Golcar United meaning Sports finished a point away from safety at the end of a breathless day of action.
Nathan Cartman had given them a first-half lead before Ryan Wadsworth and Rhomani Murray struck to put the visitors 2-1 up but the game was turned on its head again as Ellis Wade and Mohammed Qasim put the home side 3-2 ahead.
Ashley Flynn levelled matters once more and it looked as though a point in a 3-3 draw would be enough for Sports before the news came through of Thackley's equaliser that put them in peril and then they conceded the fourth from Kallum Reed to confirm their sad fate.
At the other end of the table, Barton knew that a point at home to basement side Wombwell Town would have secured them a top-five finish but they made fully sure as they beat their visitors 3-1, Lewis Stephens' double added to by Thomas Waudby whilst Liam Owen struck an equaliser for the away side.
In the end, the two sides chasing them for that spot were both unable to get the wins they needed to have any chance of toppling Barton, Campion drawing 1-1 at Parkgate whilst Handsworth went down 4-2 at Tadcaster Albion.
Shay Muirhead struck an equaliser for Campion after Harry Day had put the Steelmen ahead whilst William Marshall, Oliver Norman and Jayden Thompson added to an Owen Haigh own goal as the Brewers go into the play-offs in fine form.
Ben Harriott and Brandon Bagley got the goals for the Ambers who end the season in seventh whilst Campion finish in sixth.
Elsewhere, the other sides looking nervously over their shoulder at the relegation zone picked up results that secured their safety.
Rossington Main, who had only a remote chance of finishing in the bottom two, put any doubts to bed as they won 2-1 at Knaresborough Town, Mackenzie Warne and Masai Arbouin with their goals with Jack Dyche scoring a late consolation for the hosts.
And, Horbury Town picked up a point with a 1-1 draw at Frickley Athletic, Gibril Bojang's deadlock-breaker for them cancelled out in injury time by Charlie Clegg, and that leaves them in sixteenth.
Champions Liversedge won 2-0 at home to Pickering Town, George Green and Kelan Swales with their goals, and they conclude their season with a trip to Knaresborough next weekend in the division's outstanding game.
Meanwhile, Sheffield were beaten 1-0 at Penistone Church, James Young's 31st minute penalty proving to be the difference, but they finish third and will host Tadcaster in next Saturday's semi-finals of the Premier Division play-offs, the other tie seeing Beverley at home to Barton.
In Division One, Winterton Rangers' finish in the bottom three was confirmed as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Louth Town, Will Pennell with the 49th minute winner that means Rangers will now have to wait to see if there is a reprieve from relegation for them in the summer.
In the race for the final play-off spot up for grabs, Leeds UFCA won 2-0 at home to Maltby Main to keep themselves in the coveted fifth spot, Adam Jones and Liam Burt's goals in quick succession early in the match proving to be enough.
They stay two points clear of Brigg Town who won 4-1 at home to relegated Nostell Miners Welfare, Joshua Batty with all of the Zebras' goals whilst Cooper Hall found the net for the visitors.
And, the only other side who can end the campaign in the top five suffered an almost fatal blow to their hopes as Route One Rovers were beaten 1-0 at third-placed Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, Keelan Grist with the decider in the 41st minute.
So, with two games left in their season, UFCA are big favourites to finish fifth as Brigg only have one match remaining to usurp them whilst Rovers are six points behind with two fixtures to go for them.
Champions Dearne & District are still on target to reach the 110-point mark as they won 5-1 at Goole AFC, a double each from Adam Baskerville and Jamie Austin helping them to another comprehensive victory on their travels.
Second-placed Wakefield AFC continue their hunt to secure a home tie in the play-off semi-finals with a 2-0 home win over Ilkley Town in Friday night's game, Akeel Francis' brace meaning they keep a gap between themselves and the two sides that could still overtake them.
Worsbrough are four points behind with two games in hand whilst Harrogate Railway Athletic's 2-0 victory at Crowle Colts, James Eyles and Alex Burton with the goals, keeps them in touching distance in fourth.
Elsewhere, Appleby Frodingham stormed to a 5-1 home win against Doncaster City to secure their safety no matter what happened elsewhere, Joshua Fraiwald, Nathan Jarman, Gareth Barlow, Jordan Spencer and Ryan Bonser with their goals.
Selby Town tighten their grip on a top-half finish after their 5-0 defeat of relegated visitors Glasshoughton Welfare, Harry Clapham's first-half double added to in the final twenty minutes by Maximillian Bauer, Joseph Rawcliffe and Harry Douglas.
Michael Dunn struck a hat-trick for Armthorpe Welfare as they won 4-1 at home to Appleby Frodingham, the visitors though knowing their Division One future was secured despite the defeat.
And, it ended goalless between Club Thorne Colliery and their visitors South Leeds and they are ninth and twelfth, respectively.
Photo: James Beaston in action in his 100th and final game for Knaresborough Town before his retirement - a game that ended in a 2-1 home loss to Rossington Main in the Macron NCEL Premier Division on Saturday. (Picture: Graham Finney Photography)
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