Liversedge FC start year clear on top of table after victory in seven-goal thriller at Horbury Town
Liversedge FC go into the start of 2026 sitting pretty at the top of the Macron NCE League after two more victories over the festive period left them eight points clear at the top with games in hand.
Danny Forrest’s men were made to work hard in both of their fixtures, but came through to earn six points after beating Rossington Main 2-1 at the Meat Drunkery Clayborn Stadium and winning a seven-goal thriller 4-3 at Horbury Town.
In the first of the games Antony Brown put Liversedge ahead only for Shaun Tuton to equalise within five minutes.
Kelan Swales fired the home team back into the lead before half-time and it stayed 2-1 to the final whistle with no further goals added.
Saturday’s derby against a much improved Horbury team exploded into action in the second half when six goals were scored and it needed a Lewis Barlow effort four minutes from time to seal the points for Sedge.
In front of the third highest crowd recorded at the ground Town showed why they have climbed off the bottom of the table in recent weeks up to 15th as they gave as good as they got in the first half and came within a whisker of going ahead as Gibril Bojang’s shot hit the crossbar.
But it was the table toppers who opened the scoring when awarded a penalty. Ben Atkinson’s spot kick was saved by Paul Day, but he followed up to score from the rebound.
The second half quickly exploded into life with Sam Kyeremeh equalising within three minutes of the restart. Carlos Rodrigues then made it 2-1 to the hosts round the hour mark and Sedge had a real game on their hands now.
They responded well as the game was turned on its head again by two goals in two minutes from Finn Donovan and Alfie Dean.
Back came Horbury to make it 3-3 eight minutes from time, Bailey Thompson netting. But it was the visitors who went away with all the points thanks to Barlow’s late effort. They could have added another, but saw an injury-time penalty saved.
Liversedge now host another improving team in Frickley Athletic this Saturday.