THERE was drama at both ends of the table in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division on Saturday.
Liversedge were finally crowned as deserved champions, claiming their crown in style with a 3-0 win at Parkgate.
But tension-filled 1-0 wins for both Albion Sports and Eccleshill United gave them an enormous boost in their fierce battle against relegation.
Sedge have gone straight back up to the Northern Premier League East Division at the first attempt, managing it with five games to spare.
Only a win was enough to guarantee the title, but they were on their way once Alfie Dean put them in front after 33 minutes.
The result was still in the balance until the hour mark, but quickfire goals from Kelan Swales and George Green allowed the visitors to breathe easily, knowing automatic promotion was in the bag.
If Sedge had not got the job done at Parkgate, they would have had several more chances to seal top spot, but the pressure on Albion was immediate and huge.
They faced a six-pointer at second-bottom Rossington Main, knowing defeat would send them tumbling into the relegation zone at the expense of their hosts.
Both sides had their chances on a nervy afternoon in Doncaster, Albion clearing one off the line in first-half stoppage-time.
But the Bradford side got the all-important only goal of the game, winning 1-0 thanks to Nash Connolly’s strike after 27 minutes.
They are now four points clear of Rossington and danger, but the South Yorkshire side do still have two games in hand on them.
Eccleshill shot up from 16th to 13th in the 20-team table with a late home win over Frickley Athletic.
The game was goalless with five minutes to go but then Harry Gagen sold his back pass short on the difficult Cougar Park pitch.
Frickley keeper Will Sykes tried to save the day, but instead he brought down the Eccleshill forward in the box.
Up stepped Stevie Ellix to take the pressure penalty, and he dispatched it to move his side seven points clear of the drop.
That should make them safe, with the win leaving the Eagles level on points with their great rivals Thackley.
The Dennyboys could have effectively guaranteed survival once and for all, but they lost 2-1 at Sheffield on Saturday thanks to a last-minute goal.
Thackley’s Hass Gorji equalised an early Cam Bedford goal, but Luke Mangham had the final say at the death.
Campion played on Friday night, but they lost 3-1 at home to fellow promotion hunters Tadcaster Albion, despite taking an early lead through Ewan Gregson.
Sheffield and Taddy are threatening to knock the Bradford side out of the play-off spots, with Campion’s miserable night compounded by a red card for Matty Nebard.
Route One Rovers continue to push for promotion in NCEL Division One.
Their 4-1 home win over Goole AFC on Saturday puts them seven points off the final play-off spot with three games in hand on the side who currently occupy that, Brigg Town.
Steeton did not have a weekend game, but their neighbours Silsden did in the Northern Premier League East Division.
The Cobbydalers surprisingly lost 2-0 at home to rock-bottom Blyth Town, but they still sit six points clear of danger.
Managerless Brighouse Town look certain to go down, eight points away from safety after their 4-0 defeat at high-flying Pontefract Collieries.
Finally, mid-table Guiseley were beaten 2-0 at title hopefuls Hednesford Town in the NPL Premier Division.
