WOMBWELL Town were minutes away from ending a 16-game winless run in the NCEL Premier Division but conceded a late leveller in a 1-1 draw at fellow Barnsley club Penistone Church on Wednesday.
Gavin Allott saw his penalty saved late in the first half but tucked away the rebound to put Town in front.
Liam Clayton levelled for Penistone in the 88th minute.
Church are 15th, eight points and four places clear of the relegation zone but all teams below them have at least one game in hand.
They are 13 points ahead of Town who have not won in the league since September and are bottom, eight points adrift of safety.
The midweek derby was one of only a few matches involving Barnsley teams to be played this week due to the cold weather.
Dearne and District lost 3-1 at champions Worksop Town in the Sheffield Senior Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.
Worksop play in the National League North so are four divisions above NCEL Division One leaders Dearne.
The hosts went 2-0 up after nine minutes then Adam Baskerville replied for Dearne in the 15th.
Worksop secured the win late on and now join Barnsley under 21s and Worsbrough Bridge in the last four.
Dearne will now return to their promotion push and are due to play their first league match of 2026 when they visit bottom club Glasshoughton Welfare on Saturday.
They are 12 points clear at the top but teams below have games in hand.
Worsbrough Bridge’s title chances took a further blow on Saturday as they began the year with a 2-1 loss at fellow top five club Brigg Town in NCEL Division One.
Jack Squires put the Briggers ahead early but the hosts scored twice in the second half with 442 fans watching.
It was a second straight loss after a 2-1 defeat at relegation battling Athersley Rec in a Barnsley derby which was their last game of 2025.
After losing their first two league games of the season, Bridge won 18 of the next 23 – with one defeat – and looked to be in contention for the only automatic promotion place.
But they are now fourth, a point behind Wakefield and Harrogate Railway and 13 off leaders Dearne and District who have played two extra games.
Worsbrough are six points clear of fifth-placed Brigg and 15 ahead of the sides outside the four play-off places although some have up to three games in hand.
Bridge have 15 games left to play starting at home to eighth-placed Club Thorne Colliery on Saturday.
Athersley Rec’s game was called off but they dropped into the relegation zone due to other results.
There was one game played in the Barnsley Sunday League.
The Cottage beat Ardsley Oaks 2-1 in the Premier Division.
The home scorers were Alfred Thompson and Zach Whitfield.
Jordan Kershaw netted for the visitors.
