DEARNE and District need one point from their final game tomorrow to secure the league title.
Dearne won 3-0 at SJR of Worksop on Saturday. Bayley Lowe, Enzo Guarini and Brandon Burke scored.
Dearne’s last game is at home to mid-table AFC Bentley on Saturday and a point would be enough for the title. They are six points clear of second-placed Doncaster City who have two games to play and a superior goal difference.
Dearne are thought to be already guaranteed a place in the NCEL after their Goldthorpe stadium passed a ground-grading but are ‘desperate’ to finish first. They have won 26 of their 29 games, drawing two and losing only to Doncaster City who signed internationals Wes Hoolahan, Ross McCormack and Charlie Mulgrew for that game only.
Manager Jason Blunt said: “It would be a great achievement for the club, community, players and staff.
“I can’t remember the last time Dearne won anything.
“We think we will be in the NCEL next season anyway, that’s what we’re hearing, but the goal is to win the title.
“It wouldn’t be the same if we came second.
“All the lads have said that.
“They are desperate for the title.
“It’s been a fantastic season.
“We’ve only lost one game and it cost the opposition thousands of pounds.
“Now we want to end it on a high.”
Saturday’s opponents Bentley are currently sixth.
Blunt said: “We only need a point but we will go for a win like we always do.
“We’ve had seven clean sheets on the bounce, which is brilliant at this time of the season, but we’ve been really attack-minded.
“We always play with high intensity, and our work-rate makes us hard to play against.
“Bentley are a strong team.
“We had a difficult fixture against them earlier in the season.
“They have lots of games in hand.
“They are a big team so we will have to match them physically.
“We expect a tough game.”
Dearne are likely to be playing in NCEL Division One next season against fellow Barnsley clubs Athersley Rec, Worsbrough Bridge and Wombwell Town.
They hope to compete for another promotion and want to become the highest-placed Barnsley non-league side in the future.
“We’re already planning pre-season. We’ve organised a friendly against Welsh champions TNS, and we’re looking to announce games against some professional teams.
“We will be looking to keep the squad we have now, and top up the fitness levels by training more. There is no reason we can’t compete near the top again.
“We get a lot of support from the community and we are averaging 300 or 400 fans per home game.
“We’re developing youth teams as well.”
Meanwhile, Elite AFC won 4-0 at home to Harworth Colliery on Saturday.
Bartek Chrobak scored twice with Cole Patrick and Tommy Pallett on target.
The Cudworth-based side are fourth with two games left.
