Dearne & District have been confirmed as Macron NCEL Division One champions following their 5-0 win at Club Thorne Colliery on Friday night.

They went into the game knowing that a victory would secure them the well-deserved title and any nerves were calmed when Jamie Austin gave them a one-goal lead before Adam Baskerville and Joshua Dacre made the outcome beyond doubt by the 68th minute.

Taylor Nicholson and Max Eastwood struck late on to put the icing on the cake and, after huge celebrations at the final whistle, they were presented with the trophy that has been won with four games to spare.

It was the only thing decided on a busy weekend of NCEL action as we enter the final few weeks of the season and what could be a dramatic conclusion to the campaign with regards to promotion and relegation in both divisions.

In the Premier Division, champions Liversedge drew 1-1 at home to Golcar United in another of the four games that were played on Friday.

Over 500 people watched as Sedge played their first home game since lifting the title and Finn Donovan gave them a 44th minute lead before Ashley Flynn ensured the spoils were shared with his equaliser around the hour mark.

The race to join them in promotion to Step 4 continues to hot up with Beverley Town and Sheffield both winning to almost clinch themselves a play-off place.

Andrew Norfolk struck the only goal of the game as Beverley won at fellow top-five side Barton Town 1-0 whilst Sheffield prevailed by the same scoreline at relegation-threatened Bottesford Town, Nathaniel Crofts with the 61st minute decider.

Beverley need one point from their final three games to ensure a top-five finish and Sheffield have four matches remaining to get the two points they need to secure their spot.

Barton drop to fourth whilst Tadcaster Albion keep themselves in fifth after Andrew Shepherd, Oliver Green and Miguel Cassama netted in their 3-0 home win over Pickering Town, a defeat that almost brings the Pikes' faint promotion hopes to an end.

Campion and Handsworth remain just outside the play-off zone but both picked up victories to keep themselves in the hunt.

Shay Muirhead, Ewan Gregson and Aiden Day scored as Campion won 3-1 at Penistone Church, Matthew Lee with what was an equaliser for the hosts.

And, Handsworth sailed to a 7-0 victory at Thackley with one goal each for Jordan Hines, Ben Harriott, Mitchell Dunne, Alex Wonham, Jonathan Williams, Ify Ofoegbu and Tyler Williams.

Thackley now find themselves dragged into a tight relegation battle with only four points separating Rossington Main in nineteenth and Penistone six places above them.

Rossington's 2-0 win at Horbury Town has given them a lifeline, James Travis' own goal added to by Myron Gibbons, to put them within touching distance of the sides immediately above them and with two games in hand.

Horbury are now just above the trapdoor on goal difference following the defeat with Albion Sports leaping above them, Bottesford and Thackley after a priceless 4-2 home win over Parkgate.

Nathan Cartman's hat-trick helped the Lions to the win after Amarvir Sandhu had cancelled out Jacob Pearson's opener for the Steelmen with Hayden Goddard adding to the visitors' tally in stoppage time.

Eccleshill United's 2-1 loss at Knaresborough Town leaves the Eagles looking nervously over their shoulder whilst their hosts can breathe a little easier after their win.

Lewis Waddington had restored parity for Eccleshill but Ben Gelder and Slater Barkham-Barnes' goals ensured a victory for Knaresborough who are tenth, eight points above the drop zone, again highlighting how tight things are in the bottom half of the table.

Meanwhile, Frickley Athletic got three big points to keep themselves six points from danger with a 2-0 home win over basement side Wombwell Town, Elliott Andrew and Samuel Cable with the second half strikes.

Elsewhere in Division One, Wakefield AFC's play-off spot has been confirmed after their 4-0 defeat of visitors Appleby Frodingham.

Thomas Hinton and Akeel Francis gave them the perfect start with a double salvo in the opening four minutes before Ethan Kachosa pounced twice to complete the victory.

Third-placed Harrogate Railway Athletic drew 1-1 at Winterton Rangers, Alex Burton's opener for the Rail quickly cancelled out by Lewis Shillito for Rangers who are five points away from safety in the relegation zone.

Josh Brown, Dempsey Smith and Isaac Jeffreys were the scorers for Worsbrough Bridge Athletic who stay fourth after their 3-0 home win over Maltby Main.

Brigg Town came from behind to win 4-1 at home to Louth Town, Donavan Day's double added to by a Joshua Batty penalty and an Oliver Fisher strike after Will Pennell had put the visitors in front.

The Zebras have a three-point cushion in the final play-off position but closest rival Leeds UFCA, who won 1-0 at home to Doncaster City courtesy of an early Omar Sanyang strike, have three games in hand in the race to end the campaign in the top five.

Route One Rovers' play-off hopes were dented with a 2-1 loss at Crowle Colts, Ashton Short's 87th minute winner for the hosts condemning Rovers to a defeat that sees them drop to seventh.

Thorne's defeat to Dearne sees their hopes fade in eighth but they still have a mathematical chance of a play-off spot along with Armthorpe Welfare who drew 2-2 at home to South Leeds.

Finlay Gill and Thomas Joynt had twice given them the lead, the second from the penalty spot, but the visitors battled back on both occasions with goals from William Law and James Law.

Nostell Miners Welfare remain next-to-bottom but have closed the gap to safety to nine points as they won 2-0 at the side they are chasing Athersley Recreation, Kurtis Gollings and Matthew Hughes with the goals that keep their hopes of a great escape still alive.

Nathan Perks struck four as Goole AFC were 7-1 home victors over already relegated Glasshoughton Welfare whilst there was a goalless draw in the match between Selby Town and their visitors Ilkley Town.

Photo: Congratulations to Dearne & District whose 5-0 win at Club Thorne Colliery on Friday night has confirmed them as Macron NCEL Division One champions.