Penistone Church are top of the NCEL Premier Division for the first time this season but their manager says the hard work starts now.
An 88th-minute goal by Kieran Ryan meant Church triumphed 1-0 at Albion Sports to move into the only promotion place to the Evo-Stik Premier League.
It was a fourth successive win and put them above previous leaders Yorkshire Amateur who were thrashed 4-1 at third-placed Hemsworth MW.
Penistone, who have 13 games to play, are now two points clear of Amateur who have played a game more while they are eight points ahead of all the other clubs.
Bridlington Town were also beaten and have now fallen back to sixth, nine points behind Ian Richards’ side with three games in hand.
Richards said: “Being top is a reward for all the hard work the players have put in this season. We have won four out of four in 2019 including against two serious contenders for the title, Knaresborough and Hemsworth.
"It’s a great feeling for everyone at the football club and we are in the highest position in the club’s 113-year history.
“But the hard work starts now. Every team will see us as a scalp now we are top and all the games will be like cup finals. I will make sure there is no complacency and that everyone is still focused.
"We have exceeded expectations by being top at this point with a much smaller budget than the teams around us but, now we are there, we want to finish the job and that’s what everyone is working towards.”
