Match Reviews for
Toolstation NCEL Match Review 2023/24 #72
7th April, 2024
Toolstation NCEL Premier Division champions Emley AFC were presented with the trophy on a day of well-deserved celebration for the Pewits on Saturday.
Emley, who claimed the title last weekend, drew 2-2 at home with Golcar United, twice coming from behind through James Walshaw and Iyrwah Gooden after George Doyle had given the visitors the lead on both occasions.
But, the game was just the prelude to the post-match trophy celebrations for the home side who have one more league game and a chance to win the JCP Construction League Cup before making their move up to Step 4 in the FA National System.
Originally scheduled to be the final day of the Premier Division season, only two sides were able to complete their campaigns following months of disruption due to wet weather.
And, in keeping with that trend, four games were called off because of waterlogged pitches at Barton Town, Campion, Eccleshill United and Hallam with Knaresborough Town, Thackley, Garforth Town and Maltby Main all now travelling respectively to those grounds at later dates.
Four matches were also postponed in Division One - Clay Cross Town's home game with Athersley Recreation, Parkgate's trip to Harrogate Railway Athletic, Selby Town's encounter with visitors Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, and Shirebrook Town's fixture at Yorkshire Amateur.
In the Premier Division action that did go ahead, fourth-placed Rossington Main, who have already secured a play-off spot alongside Campion and Garforth, drew 0-0 at Tadcaster Albion whilst Albion Sports will have to wait and see if they have taken the final berth after their 2-1 win at Pickering Town.
The Lions ended their campaign with a victory courtesy of first half strikes from Ashley Flynn and Dominic Staunton whilst Nathan Dyer pulled one back for the hosts.
Penistone Church have kept themselves in with a mathematical chance of snatching fifth spot from Sports following their 4-0 home victory over Goole AFC.
Nathan Keightley's brace was added to by one each for Lennon O'Grady and Antony Brown and it means that if Church win their remaining three games they would leapfrog into the play-off zone by the narrowest of margins.
Bottesford Town's campaign ended with a 4-2 loss at Frickley Athletic after they had twice led through Matthew Broadley and Edward Rogerson.
A double from Lloyd Smith plus goals from Zavier Elkin and Rieves Boocock, however, ensured it was a home victory for Frickley who are fourteenth.
And, there were two goals for Luke Brooksbank as Silsden AFC won 4-1 at Handsworth, Jake Maltby and Casey Stewart also on the scoresheet for the visitors whilst Mitchell Dunne netted for the Cobbydalers.
Wakefield AFC have returned to the top of Division One, going above Shirebrook on goal difference following their 4-1 home victory over Louth Town.
Ben Gelder and Sebastian Losa gave them an early two goal cushion, Bailey Wright halved the deficit, but Slater Barkham-Barnes and Jaydan Sandhu made sure of the win in the second period.
Beverley Town's 3-1 home victory over Nostell Miners Welfare keeps them third, just a point behind the top two, Scott Phillips, Joshua Batty and Joe McFadyen with the hosts' goals.
Retford United climb to fourth, five points off the summit and now with a nine point cushion in the play-off zone, after Gregg Smith's double ensured a 2-1 defeat of hosts Staveley Miners Welfare, James Gregory with what was an equaliser for the Trojans.
Wombwell Town and Horbury Town kept themselves in with a narrow chance of a late surge into the play-offs with away wins.
Wombwell were 2-1 down going into injury time at Dronfield Town when a Michael Fereday own goal and a winner from Owen Sykes saw them snatch a 3-2 victory.
And, Horbury raced into a 4-0 half-time lead before winning 6-3 at bottom side Ollerton Town.
Armthorpe Welfare secured their NCEL survival with a 4-1 home win over Swallownest, moving eleven points clear of danger thanks to goals from Matthew Flanagan, Ryan Ellison, Adam Baskerville, and an own goal from Ben Marro.
Meanwhile, Retford FC climb to eleventh after their 1-0 victory over visitors Brigg Town, Jack Johnson with the 48th minute decider.
Photo: Congratulations to champions Emley AFC who were presented with the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division trophy after their 2-2 home draw with Golcar United on Saturday. (Picture: Mark Parsons)
Emley, who claimed the title last weekend, drew 2-2 at home with Golcar United, twice coming from behind through James Walshaw and Iyrwah Gooden after George Doyle had given the visitors the lead on both occasions.
But, the game was just the prelude to the post-match trophy celebrations for the home side who have one more league game and a chance to win the JCP Construction League Cup before making their move up to Step 4 in the FA National System.
Originally scheduled to be the final day of the Premier Division season, only two sides were able to complete their campaigns following months of disruption due to wet weather.
And, in keeping with that trend, four games were called off because of waterlogged pitches at Barton Town, Campion, Eccleshill United and Hallam with Knaresborough Town, Thackley, Garforth Town and Maltby Main all now travelling respectively to those grounds at later dates.
Four matches were also postponed in Division One - Clay Cross Town's home game with Athersley Recreation, Parkgate's trip to Harrogate Railway Athletic, Selby Town's encounter with visitors Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, and Shirebrook Town's fixture at Yorkshire Amateur.
In the Premier Division action that did go ahead, fourth-placed Rossington Main, who have already secured a play-off spot alongside Campion and Garforth, drew 0-0 at Tadcaster Albion whilst Albion Sports will have to wait and see if they have taken the final berth after their 2-1 win at Pickering Town.
The Lions ended their campaign with a victory courtesy of first half strikes from Ashley Flynn and Dominic Staunton whilst Nathan Dyer pulled one back for the hosts.
Penistone Church have kept themselves in with a mathematical chance of snatching fifth spot from Sports following their 4-0 home victory over Goole AFC.
Nathan Keightley's brace was added to by one each for Lennon O'Grady and Antony Brown and it means that if Church win their remaining three games they would leapfrog into the play-off zone by the narrowest of margins.
Bottesford Town's campaign ended with a 4-2 loss at Frickley Athletic after they had twice led through Matthew Broadley and Edward Rogerson.
A double from Lloyd Smith plus goals from Zavier Elkin and Rieves Boocock, however, ensured it was a home victory for Frickley who are fourteenth.
And, there were two goals for Luke Brooksbank as Silsden AFC won 4-1 at Handsworth, Jake Maltby and Casey Stewart also on the scoresheet for the visitors whilst Mitchell Dunne netted for the Cobbydalers.
Wakefield AFC have returned to the top of Division One, going above Shirebrook on goal difference following their 4-1 home victory over Louth Town.
Ben Gelder and Sebastian Losa gave them an early two goal cushion, Bailey Wright halved the deficit, but Slater Barkham-Barnes and Jaydan Sandhu made sure of the win in the second period.
Beverley Town's 3-1 home victory over Nostell Miners Welfare keeps them third, just a point behind the top two, Scott Phillips, Joshua Batty and Joe McFadyen with the hosts' goals.
Retford United climb to fourth, five points off the summit and now with a nine point cushion in the play-off zone, after Gregg Smith's double ensured a 2-1 defeat of hosts Staveley Miners Welfare, James Gregory with what was an equaliser for the Trojans.
Wombwell Town and Horbury Town kept themselves in with a narrow chance of a late surge into the play-offs with away wins.
Wombwell were 2-1 down going into injury time at Dronfield Town when a Michael Fereday own goal and a winner from Owen Sykes saw them snatch a 3-2 victory.
And, Horbury raced into a 4-0 half-time lead before winning 6-3 at bottom side Ollerton Town.
Armthorpe Welfare secured their NCEL survival with a 4-1 home win over Swallownest, moving eleven points clear of danger thanks to goals from Matthew Flanagan, Ryan Ellison, Adam Baskerville, and an own goal from Ben Marro.
Meanwhile, Retford FC climb to eleventh after their 1-0 victory over visitors Brigg Town, Jack Johnson with the 48th minute decider.
Photo: Congratulations to champions Emley AFC who were presented with the Toolstation NCEL Premier Division trophy after their 2-2 home draw with Golcar United on Saturday. (Picture: Mark Parsons)
Latest Stories by Section