THE TWO Barnsley teams battling for the NCEL Division One title are due to meet tonight in a potentially season-defining game.

Goldthorpe club Dearne and District welcome Worsbrough Bridge from 7.45pm, weather permitting.

Dearne are currently in the only automatic promotion place with 58 points from 24 games.

They are six clear of second-placed Harrogate Railway and eight ahead of Worsbrough, both of whom have three games in hand on the leaders.

Dearne were the only team in the top three to play this week but lost for the first time since September, ending a run of 11 straight wins in all competitions.

Worsbrough, since losing their first two matches of the season including a 2-0 home defeat to Dearne in August, have won 16, drawn two and lost one of their 19 league games.

Bridge have won ten consecutive away games since losing on the opening day at Harrogate while Dearne have won their last 11 home league games.

Worsbrough manager Lee Morris said: “Let two big boys go head to head in front of a big crowd and see who comes out on top.

“It will be better for a neutral than me as a manager because I am sure it will be tense.

“But these games are what we are in football for, top-of-the-table clashes.

“The league won’t be won or lost on Friday night but it’s a big game.

“People are saying we have less pressure on us and Dearne need to go up.

“We’ve got a good record on the road, we beat them there last season and we will go in there confident.

“But every player has to be at least an eight out of ten.

“We’re capable of that.

“I watched Dearne on Saturday and I’ve managed pretty much every one of their players.

“Zeph (Thomas) has done a great job there.

“We know what they are good at and not so good at.

“We will try to exploit what we can and keep their dangerous forward line quiet.”

Dearne manager Thomas said: “Worsbrough are going really, really well. They have been together a few years like us. They have a style which works for them and is good.

“It should be a great game.

“It’s amazing for the area to have two teams so high in the table and we should have a healthy crowd.

“The game will probably come down to fine margins and big moments – who can hold their nerve, handle the occasion and take chances.

“It’s very tight at the top so any slip-up is important, especially against one of your rivals. There is a lot on the line so we have to be at it.”