Eccleshill United overcame the disadvantage of giving up home advantage at the weekend to plunder a late winner against Frickley Athletic, as they continue to finish their Northern Counties East League Premier Division campaign with a flourish.
The Bradford side were in genuine danger of relegation a few weeks ago, but some excellent results, notably a double over rivals Silsden, kept their heads above water.
Remarkably, they could still finish as high as 13th in the 20-team league now, with two games left to go.
One of those sides they could overtake is Frickley, who have now ended their campaign, four points clear of the Eagles.
The game between the two sides was meant to take place in Bradford, but with Eccleshill having to call several home games off of late due to a waterlogged pitch, an agreement was made to switch the game to Frickley’s ground in Pontefract.
But Eccleshill shrugged off the supposed drawback of playing away, and nicked a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from striker Harvey Booth four minutes from time.
Campion were not in action but will be guaranteed to finish second if they win their final game of the season on Wednesday at home to Bradford neighbours Thackley.
The visiting Dennyboys have just missed out on the play-offs, but Campion should be at home in the semis against another Bradford side in Albion Sports.
Sports’ league campaign is over, but they will finish in the fifth and final play-off spot unless Penistone Church pip them by winning both of their last two games.
Silsden are guaranteed a top-half finish with one league fixture left to go, but their focus was elsewhere on Saturday, as they edged out Knaresborough Town 5-3 on penalties in the NCEL League Cup third round after a 1-1 draw.
The Cobbydalers overcame falling behind in the first half to equalise just after the break through Luke Brooksbank, while they also survived a Jake Cassidy sin-binning.
That paid off as they were perfect from the spot, Jake Maltby netting the winning penalty in the shootout to send his side into an away quarter-final at Parkgate.
Route One Rovers still had an outside chance of reaching the North West Counties Football League First Division North play-offs, but their hopes were dashed by a 3-0 home defeat to Euxton Villa on the final day.
Results elsewhere meant victory would not have been enough for the Bradford side to make it anyway.
Steeton secured safety in the division earlier this month, but they would have been disappointed by a miserable final-day defeat at Nelson.
It was the perfect afternoon for the hosts, who now have a real possibility of survival after winning 4-0, on a day where Steeton finished with 10 men after Emerson Mitchell’s sending off for two bookable offences.
Brighouse Town are collapsing in the Northern Premier League East Division, and slipped into the relegation zone after a woeful second-half display at home to Pontefract Collieries saw them lose 4-1.
The sides were drawing 0-0 at the break after Brig’s Mo Qasim missed a penalty, but four goals in 21 minutes after the break destroyed the hosts, who scored a late consolation through Myron Gibbons.
Mid-table Liversedge played out a 2-2 draw at 10-man Consett, Eddie Church netting both of their goals, including a late equaliser.
Guiseley’s decision to sack Andy Welsh the other week does not seem to be paying off, and their NPL Premier Division play-off hopes are virtually over after losing 2-1 at Matlock Town on Saturday, Liam Hardy scoring a last-gasp winner for the hosts.
Finally, Farsley Celtic lost 3-1 in a huge National League North relegation battle against Darlington at the weekend, meaning they now have to better Blyth Spartans’ result on the final day or they will go down.
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