Thackley were 4-0 winners at Golcar United on Saturday to move up to second in the NCEL Premier Division, now behind their hosts solely on goal difference after the final round of matches in 2024.

On an afternoon of big attendances across the league as fans took advantage of the first football action since the Christmas break, a crowd of 559 watched as a Finn Donovan hat-trick helped the Dennyboys to the victory in the top-three clash.

Ben Grech-Brooksbank had earlier opened the scoring for the visitors whose win ensures the title chase is on a knife-edge going into the New Year.

Five Premier Division games recorded crowds of over 500, another was at the clash between the other two top four sides as Beverley Town drew 1-1 at home to Silsden AFC.

Glen Sani broke the deadlock on the hour mark for the hosts before the Cobbydalers rescued a point in the 71st minute through Kayle Price's equaliser.

Silsden drop to third but are on the same points as Golcar and Thackley whilst Beverley remain fourth, ten points behind the top three.

Hallam are up into fifth after their 3-1 home win over Pickering Town, in front of 921 spectators - the biggest attendance of the NCEL season so far.

Souleymane Coulibaly had put the Pikes in front after eleven minutes but the Countrymen turned the game round in the second period with Gregory Smith's equaliser then capitalised on by strikes from Danny South and James Cadman.

528 watched a goalless draw between Penistone Church and Parkgate with Church dropping to sixth after the stalemate whilst the Steelmen move up into eleventh.

Andrew Norfolk's first-half opener and a late penalty from Thomas Waudby saw Barton Town prevail 2-0 at home to Eccleshill United in front of a crowd of 530.

It was an emotional afternoon for Barton as it was the first match since the tragic death of their goalkeeper James Hitchcock.

Admission to the game was free but donations were taken for his family's chosen charity, One Punch Hull & East Yorkshire.

Albion Sports keep themselves within touching distance of the play-off zone in seventh after Nathan Cartman and Aran Basi struck at both ends of their Friday night home game in a 2-0 win over Frickley Athletic.

Basement side Goole AFC gave their survival bid a boost as James Simmonite, Callum Clark and Curtis Davies struck in a 3-1 home victory against Tadcaster Albion, Daniel Thirkell with an equaliser for the Brewers.

The Vikings are nine points from safety after the side they are chasing, Knaresborough Town, were involved in a home goalless draw with Campion.

The other team in the bottom two, Winterton Rangers, went down to a 1-0 loss at the hands of visitors Rossington Main, Bradley Grayson with the early decider.

Main are tenth, one place behind Handsworth who ended the year with a 3-1 home win over Bottesford Town, coming from behind to take the points with help from a brace by Mitchell Dunne.

Horbury Town go into 2025 as firm favourites for the Division One title as their 3-1 victory at Swallownest extended their lead at the summit to fourteen points.

James Travis and James Cusworth gave them a two goal advantage by the break, Alex Wonham halved their lead but substitute Gibril Bojang made sure of the win in stoppage time.

Second-placed Wombwell Town lost ground on the leaders as they were beaten 5-4 in a remarkable game at home to Glasshoughton Welfare.

They almost staged a remarkable comeback after a Liam Flanagan hat-trick and an Evan Fortune-West double had given the visitors a 5-1 lead going into the final seven minutes.

But, Daniel Youel came off the bench to score twice for Wombwell and, when Edward Agnew got his side's fourth in stoppage time, it would not have surprised anyone if the game finished level but Glasshoughton held on for all three points.

Joshua Jordan netted a late winner as Brigg Town beat visitors Athersley Recreation 1-0 to move the Zebras up into third spot.

They leapfrog South Leeds who went down 4-2 at home to Ilkley Town who move to within goal difference of the play-off zone.

Alfie Dean and Luke Baldwin found the net and Kevin Gonzalez added two more to put the away side in complete control by the 34th minute before a mini-revival by the hosts in the second period.

The division's biggest attendance, both for the weekend and the season, was at the Millennium Stadium where 478 saw a goalless draw between hosts Wakefield AFC and Harrogate Railway Athletic.

Wakefield fall to seventh whilst the Rail remain in thirteenth after the closely-fought encounter, one of two 0-0 draws in the division alongside Club Thorne Colliery's home clash with Armthorpe Welfare.

An Ashley Flynn brace helped Maltby Main to a 3-1 win at Selby Town to jump over their hosts into ninth spot whilst Ross Killock grabbed the winner for Shelley as they beat visitors Louth Town 2-1.

Dronfield Town drew 3-3 at Worsbrough Bridge Athletic, Joe Pearson and Charlie Stewart with the goals that turned a 3-1 deficit into a vital point as Dronfield pull away slightly from the bottom three.

Yorkshire Amateur also shared six goals in their home game with Nostell Miners Welfare, Lance Friedrich with a 67th minute equaliser for the visitors to ensure the spoils were divided equally.

The Ammers remain next-to-bottom, six points from safety, whilst the basement side Appleby Frodingham saw their home game with Dearne & District postponed due to fog.

Photo: Ben Harriott's header secures Handsworth the victory as they beat visitors Bottesford Town 3-1 on a misty Saturday afternoon at the Express Worktops Stadium. (Picture: Ken Allsebrook)