LEADERS Dearne and District have won their last nine games and are nine points clear in the only automatic promotion place in NCEL Division One.

They currently need 16 points from their final eight games to secure the title and a place in the Premier Division.

They have played the same amount of games as second-placed Wakefield who did not play this week.

Dearne won 4-1 at Louth Town on Tuesday. After Adam Baskerville’s opener was cancelled out before half-time, Cian Guest, an own goal and Curtis Wilkinson secured the win.

Athersley Rec are one place and three points clear of the bottom three with eight games to play.

They lost 3-2 at home to Leeds UFCA. Tom Mestre put them in front then, after the visitors went 2-1 up, James Woodhouse levelled only for the away team to net again late on.

In the Premier Division, Penistone Church lost 3-2 at Barton Town.

All the goals were between 13 and 38 minutes as, after the hosts went 2-0 up, Ryan Johnson and Leon Hurles-Brook levelled then Barton got the winner.

Church are tenth in the table, with 39 points from 34 games.

They have four games left but none until March 14.

They can no longer mathematically finish in the play-offs as they are 15 points off fifth.

They are nine places and 11 points clear of the two-team relegation zone but second-bottom Rossington Main have six games in hand on them.

Bottom club Wombwell Town lost 2-0 at home to third-bottom Albion Sports on Tuesday.

The visitors scored just after half-time then again in the final minutes.

They are winless in 23 league fixtures since September, losing the last seven.

That leaves them 16 points adrift of safety with eight games left.