Athersley Rec and Penistone Church collected vital wins in different divisions of the Northern Counties East League.
Rec won 2-1 at home to Brigg Town in the NCEL Division One.
The Penguins fell behind but goals for Ethan Nixon and Liam O’Brien ended a 12-match winless run since mid-September in which they had lost ten and drawn two.
With three to go down, Rec are third-bottom with 15 points from 19 games which is the halfway stage of the season.
They are three points from safety after fourth-bottom local rivals Worsbrough Bridge drew 3-3 at Shirebrook Town to move onto 18 points from 20 games.
The hosts took the lead but Conor Glavin levelled with a penalty then Harley Holt put Bridge ahead at the break. Shirebook levelled at 2-2 then, after Michael Jepps replied quickly, a late own goal ensured a draw.
Penistone Church made it three successive wins with a 1-0 victory at Handsworth in NCEL Premier Division.
Leon Hurles-Brook netted in the 29th minute for Church who are now tenth with 27 points from 17 games. They have found form after a five-match winless run.
Assistant manager John Whitehead said: “Everyone has run their blood to water for the club and for each other. The lads now really have not just turned the corner but the confidence is back and they’re looking like a team. They have to take credit for that, the application shown has been outstanding and to win against our local rivals where we haven’t had much success in recent times has been absolutely massive for us.”
No Barnsley first teams won in the County Senior League this week, but Dearne and District enjoyed a 5-2 home success over Harworth Colliery in the Central Midlands League.
In the Barnsley Sunday League, the big winners were Worsbrough United who triumphed 6-2 at Cobcar.
There were some wide scorelines in the Mexborough Sunday League, with Union Jack beating Cobcar 13-0 and Ardsley Oaks winning 15-0 over Castle Bar.
