7
Oct 2007 Whitby
double means first
class Service to good for Villa
The
League cup swung into full action as second round ties were decided and
threw up several surprises. Leading the
way were Civil Service, who , although doing well in Division Two were
looking at a possible mauling at the hands of their high flying Premier
opposition, Hemsworth Villa. Previous cup winners Villa were without their
usual centre backs,but that’s not to take away from the Civil Service
performance in which they led at half time thanks to two goals from Dave
Whitby (pictured left), who had half volleyed into the net following a through ball from
Richard Hodgson. And
New boys to the league F C Brimington also managed to pull off a surprise by beating Division 1 rivals Trickshots who fell behind in the first half due to woeful defending, allowing Brimington to coast to a 4-0 lead, highlighted by a great strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the box from Elliott Christie who went on to add another along with other goals from Michael Gartland and Andrew Bath. Trickshots changed their formation in the 2nd half and this turned things around with them piling on the pressure .Goals from Gary Cooper and two from Mark Tyler made it a nailbiting finish for Brimington, but they just held on.
Premier
League leaders Stannington Village looked bankers to beat lowly Premier
rivals Laycock Sports who they had beaten 7-2 last week, but as usual the
Cup matches can never be taken for granted and the sending off of
Village’s Bob Womack after just 20 minutes for hand ball gave Laycocks
all the incentive they needed. Sean Flynn had put Village in front, but
Simon Bartles scored from the spot to equalise and Shaun Dale put Laycocks
ahead after the break only for David Hague to level the scores. The
scores stayed the same until the 90th minute when Sam Reid hit the winner
for Laycock's for
whom Andy Register was outstanding.
Last years winners Ecclesfield Travellers were facing a hard tie against in form Handsworth WMC and finished losing 5-3. An end to end game saw Handsworth race into a 2-0 lead through a 30 yard strike from Andy Stevens (pictured right) and similar from Paul Renshaw with Craig Senior pulling one back for Travellers , Keiran Gallagher made it 3-1 but a further two goals from Senior to complete his hat trick levelled the scores. Gallagher then scored again and an own goal saw Handsworth through in a game excellently refereed by Mr M Walsh. Andy Sykes was outstanding for Handsworth.
Newcomers Bulls Head gave a good account of themselves against Premier rivals.Stocksbridge Park Steels only being 1-0 down at half time but in an all action match goals from Adam Todd (hat trick)Chris Kelly and Mark Garrett, with replies from Matt Law ,Nick Ash and a 25 yard screamer from Mark Bryant, saw Stocksbridge progress to round 3.
Premier side Blue Ball were at home to Division 2 high flyers Southey Social and it was they who had led 2-1 at half time with goals from Nick Bond (2) with Adam Podmore replying for Ball. Paul Marrison got the first of his hat trick to equalise after the break before goals by Marrison again and Adam Danks for Southey brought the game level once .With minutes to go before the end and extra time looming Adam Podmore and Marrison again sealed the win for Blue Ball.
On paper League newcomers, Brinsworth Whitehill faced a daunting task against CBC Premier side Woodhouse Angel who ran out comfortable winners with an excellent all round team performance. Scorers for Angel were Jack Hinson who netted five,David Price 2, Chris Towey and an own goal.. Brinsworth who never stopped battling scored a consolation goal with a Jamie Radford penalty.
Angels neighbours from Woodhouse,West End, looked to have a tricky looking fixture away at Park and Arbor and going in at half time with a single goal lead it looked a close game may result although West End had missed some chances against a weakened Park. However West End got a real grip on the game and rattled in another 5 goals to record an easy win.Scorers for West End were Anthony Dolan (2) Spencer Taylor (2) man of the match Damien Blakemore and an own goal.
Niagara’s Tom Staniforth scored in the first minute against League newcomers Anston Athletic and the first half turned into one way traffic with a Dan Burgess hat trick and a Ben Dronfield goal putting the home side five up at half time. Things didn’t look good for the second half but thanks to a magnificent display of goalkeeping by John Parker, Anston managed to concede no further goals.
First Division Sheldon Athletic made heavy weather of beating their Second Division opponents SUJB Old Boys and it was 0-0 at half time .Twenty minutes after the break a Paddy O’Brien header put Sheldon in front and sub Mark Scarborough came on to show how it was done with two late strikes to seal the game for Sheldon.
The all First Division clash between Sportsman Stannington and The Park was a close affair with both sides having chances . However it was Park’s Ben Lee who proved the match winner as he equalised Chris King’s strike for Sportsmen and then scored the winner almost straight from the second half kick off.
Oxspring Lowood newly promoted to the Premier this year continued their poor run of results by losing to 5-1 to First Division Mosborough Royal Oak. Ricky Davidson was the man in form for Oak hitting his first hat trick for the team and a Craig Woolley header plus a strike by Kevin Ford secured Oaks passage into the next round.
In
another all First Division clash, Loxley had much of the play against
Last
years runner up Pitsmoor Hotel set out their intentions when a 25 yard
volley by Gavin Davis gave them the lead against Oughtibridge Village and
this was followed five minutes later with a goal from Dean Foreman to put
them two up at half time. After the break
Redmires faced First Division opponents and started briskly with Danny Lindley firing in a low shot to put them ahead. Kingsley Nisbeth struck a second for Redmires after thirty minutes but Pen Nook came back into it when Mark Barraclough scored a fine individual goal. After the break Nook contended for every ball and Redmires found it difficult to get the decisive third goal. However ten minutes from time John Mellor beat the offside trap, and then scored again to seal the game.
DIVISION TWO
An
eight goal thriller in Division two where Fairbank- Rhodes got the better
of Hollin Bush with goals from Joe Knight (2) Andy Baxter (2) and Mark
Drayton. Daniel Cooper (2) and Paul Driver scored for Hollin Bush and Lee
Rodgers star performer for Bush. An excellent performance by
In the other match Colley Club have the excellent passing skills of Delroy Palmer to thank for their comfortable win against newcomers Freemasons Arms. As well as scoring himself, Palmers fine crosses from the left gave opportunities for Tony Hodge (2), Ian Seward, Neil Whitworth, and Ridah Miladi to rap up the points for the away side.
14
Oct 2007 Handsworth
are Taylor made for the top, while Craig gives Senior service
With most teams in Sunday Cup action just two league games were played and Handsworth WMC took full advantage to go top of the CBC Premier for the first time with a very convincing 5-1 victory at a Laycock Sports, but the day's top scoring honour fell to Ecclesfield Travellers
Craig Senior (pictured left) who celebrated his fiftieth game for the club with his second hat-trick in as many weeks.
Handsworth quickly took their game by the scruff of the neck when Dean Brown followed up Robert Pratt's long range effort to give them the lead and after Kieran Gallagher had hit the bar, Gallagher got onto the end of Carl Eaton's cross to double their lead before the break.
It could have been worse for the home side as Andy Steven's twice went close, but Laycock's forced their way back into the game when Sam Read netted his second in as many games. They weren't in it for long though as Handsworth quickly restored their two goal lead when Gallagher's cross was chested down by Ryan Taylor before he coolly slotted home. Another Eaton cross was then headed home by Paul Renshaw and a four man move saw Taylor tap in his second to complete the scoring.
Craig Senior's hat-trick the week before had been in vain as Ecclesfield Travellers went out of the cup, but this time his three goals saw Travellers recover from a goal down to get their second win of the season at Oxspring Lowood.
Glen Chapman scored a debut goal to give Oxspring their early lead, but Senior headed home from a corner to level before the break. After half time he gave Travellers the lead from the edge of the area and he completed the scoring by tapping home his third from Dan Touhey's cross to take his tally in his fifty games to a remarkable seventy eight.
COUNTY FA SENIOR SUNDAY CUP Mellor
treble sees Redmires through, while Sam is West End's man
Three John Mellor (pictured right) headers saw Redmires just edge out a top class Groves Social and Woodhouse West End also took their place in the next round of the Senior Sunday Cup when a single Sammy Glaves goal proved enough to beat fellow Blades Super Draw side Hemsworth Villa, but Stannington Village surprisingly went out at Bagshaw Arms.
Mellor headed home his first to give Redmires a half time lead and when he headed a second ten minutes into the second half it looked like Redmires would go through without too much trouble, but Groves pulled one back soon after and then levelled from the penalty spot. If they though Redmires would then buckle they were very much mistaken and when Danny Lindley fastened on to the end of Karl Taylor's clearance to produce the perfect cross, Mellor headed home his third to win it.
Hemsworth Villa went to Woodhouse West End wanting to avoid a second successive cup defeat, but although they produced a much improved performance they again went out to Sammy Glaves first half strike. It was a goal worthy of winning any game when it came as his thirty yard effort proved unstoppable despite the best efforts of Villa keeper Jamie King.
Stannington Village also suffered their second cup defeat in as many weeks when they went out to former Blades Super Draw side Bagshaw Arms. Both David Hague and Sean Flynn found the net for Village, but it was too little too late as Bagshaw Arms showed a greater desire to go through 6-2.
COUNTY FA JUNIOR SUNDAY CUP The
Park hit lucky 13, while Pitsmoor put Jack back in the Box
The Park were the Blades Super Draw League's big hitters in the Sunday Junior Cup as their thirteen goals made it an unlucky day for opponents Forest. Ben Lee and
Lee Bridges (pictured left) both plundered four each, Phil Sharpe two and Michael Wood, Jamie Hill and Matt Hill one each. The Park still had plenty of praise for their hosts who never gave up and never resorted to anything other than trying to play good football.
Pitsmoor Hotel also hit the goal trail with an 8-2 victory at Jack in Box. Paul Hinde grabbed three, Gavin Davis two, with the others coming from Leon Stocks, Craig Graham and Luke
Parwana. There was also a goal rush for Division Two Junior Blades who beat the Imperial League's The Silver Fox 7-2. Tom Higginbottom hit three, Danny Graham two, while the others came from Tom Crick and James Allen.
Another Division Two side to produce a terrific display was FC Brimington as they hit six without reply at Owlerton Old Crown. Nathan Gordon and Elliott Christie both hit doubles and Michael Gartland and Matthew Collier one each as Brimington gave their hosts a real roasting.
Lewis Eyre grabbed three as Loxley also hit six without reply at Beighton Falcons. John Bailey tapped in their first from Eyre's pinpoint cross and after Mick Smith had been felled in the area, Bailey stroked home to spot kick to double their lead before half time. Eyre got in the scoring act after rounding the keeper early in the second half and the game was as good as over when Goeff Mayfield headed home Mo Hamed's corner for Loxley's fourth. Bailey then set Eyre up for his second and Eyre completed his hat-trick by heading home another Hamed corner.
Chris Roberts and Darren Danks both struck twice as Southey Social beat Polonia 5-2. Todd Guest hit their other in a game they always looked in control of. Chris King and Johnny Davis also hit doubles and
Joe Lilleyman (pictured right with Chris King looking on) another as Sportsman Stannington also hit five in their victory over Sharrow Vale, while Daniel Cooper was another to grab two and along with another from Terry Spencer, they gave Hollin Bush a 3-1 home win over Foxhill Rangers.
An all-Blades Super Draw tie saw last season's quarter finalists Mosborough Royal Oak crash out at a much earlier stage to fellow Division One side Devonshire. Gregg Shaw opened the scoring for Devonshire, but a twenty five yard finish by Ricky Davidson had Oak level by half time and after Will Blakeney had been brought down in the area, Davidson blasted Oak ahead from the penalty spot.
Devonshire have found some real form of late though and after Liam Colclough had earned them a penalty, Shaw netted his second from the spot. Both sides had chances to get back in front, but the winner finally came Devonshire's way when Colclough met his brother Tom's free kick to head home
Another all-Blades Super Draw tie saw Trickshots finally grabbed a first win of the season as they twice came from two down to beat Oughtibridge Village 4-3.
Nick Smith gave Village a two goal half time lead and although Chris Greenwood pulled one back, Village looked to have won it when Charles Adams added their third.
For once though Trickshots found the resolve to hit back and after Scott Lee had pulled one back, Mark Tyler's header took the game into extra time. The winner came when Richard Jones managed to scramble the ball home, yet Village should have taken the game into a penalty shoot out when they were awarded a last gasp penalty, but Jordan Hague missed from the spot.
Division Two leaders Civil Service were also involved in another seven goal thriller that went to extra time, but they twice came from a goal down to finally beat Cobden View 4-3 after extra time. After Cobden had opened the scoring, Danny Fowler levelled from the penalty spot, but the visitors went back in front a second time. Lee Wild grabbed a second equaliser for Service and they should have won it in the final second of normal time, but Dave Whitby managed to head over from point blank range.
Whitby partly made up for his error by putting Service ahead for the first time in extra time, but it was Cobden's turn to battle back to level it up again. Both sides went flat out for a winner and it came Service's way through Ben Brown.
The unluckiest losers must be Pen Nook when they crashed out after their penalty shoot out with The Vue went to sudden death. It looked good for Nook when Mark Barraclough gave them a two goal lead after just thirty minutes, but their visitors pulled one back just before the break and levelled soon after.
Nook then hit both post and bar before Mark Thickett restored their lead with ten minutes remaining, but The Vue hit back again to take the game into extra time. Neither side could find another goal so it went to penalties and after two misses each, it went to sudden death and a further miss by Nook saw The Vue go through.
Sheldon Athletic will also count themselves as unlucky after a deflected goal saw Milestone beat them 1-0. That goal came after just twenty minutes and although Sheldon hit the woodwork three times after that, they couldn't get that all important equaliser.
Although Kim Johnstone did manage to score for Colley Club they also went out at Manor Social, but less close was Handsworth Old Boys 4-1 home defeat by Ranch and Fairbank-Rhodes exit by the same score at African Dream Team. Freemasons Arms also lost by that score at home to Tavern Tigers, while Park & Arbour LFS's defeat at Wincobank Forum was even more emphatic..
21 Oct 2007 - CBC Premier Handsworth toppled by West End show
Woodhouse
West End showed how determined they are to retain the League title by
hammering Handsworth WMC 8-0 and that left Stannington Village to take top
spot with victory at Hemsworth Villa. Newly promoted Blue Ball went third
with victory at Woodhouse Angel, while Ecclesfield Travellers brought
Redmires 
winning streak to an end by beating them 4-2. Laycock Sports
grabbed their first point of the season with a home draw against Niagara,
but Oxspring Lowood are still looking for their's after another defeat by
local rivals Stocksbridge Park Steels.
Handsworth WMC's stay at the top of the CBC Premier proved to be a short
one as reigning champions Woodhouse West End signalled their intent to
retain the title by blasting them 8-0. Spencer Taylor (pictured below)
was the early
architect of the victory and when he was brought down in the area, Dale
Fuller stepped up to give West End an early lead (pictured left). Taylor then grabbed the
first of his two goals when he
stabbed home from close range. Both he and
Fuller added another while Ashleigh Atkinson's reward for a tireless
display was his first treble of the season before sub Lee Glaves netted
the other. Keeper John Badkin also got into the spirit by denying
Handsworth a consolation with a penalty save. (More action shown below)
Stannington Village made the most of Handsworth's demise by winning 4-1 at Hemsworth Villa to go top. After a goalless first half David Hague steered them in front and Shane Toulson got on the end of Dan Green's cross to make it two. Toulson then added another with a glancing header before Mark Hopkinson pulled one back for Villa. Stannington keeper Ben Needham then produced several saves to stop Villa getting right back into the game before Hague volleyed Stannington's fourth.
Newly promoted Blue Ball moved up to third with another impressive victory by the same scoreline at Woodhouse Angel. It took until the second half before Danny Mace's speculative shot was spilled into the net to give Ball the lead, but Angel hit back straight away and Kirk Briddon tapped home from close range. Undeterred by that Ball came back to go back in front through Paul Marrison before Adam Bellamy hit a real screamer to double their lead. Danny nelson finished off yet another flowing move to complete the scoring in a match where referee Alan Streets drew praise from both sides.
Redmires seven match winning streak was brought to an end by an Ecclesfield Travellers beginning to find their feet in the top division. Danny Touhey put Craig Senior for Travellers to take the lead and when Kevin Wraith chased a lost cause he was rewarded with a perfect lob over the keeper to make it two before half time. Redmires got back into it early in the second half when James O'Connell netted, but with Chris Frank shackling of Redmires danger man Danny Lindley, Redmires couldn't get going and it was Travellers that restored their two goal lead when Dan Touhey met Paul Bashforth's free kick. Liam Wilkinson's pass then allowed Senior to score his eighth goal in three games before sub Kinsley Nisbeth pulled another back for Redmires, but Travellers stand-in keeper Scott Touhey made certain Redmires didn't get back into the game with some solid work between the sticks.
Laycock Sports finally got their first point of the season from a 1-1 draw with Niagara and with a bit more luck they might have taken all three. Sam Read chipped the keeper to give Laycock's a half time lead and it would have been more had they not had three efforts cleared off the line, but Niagara had much more of the game after the break and deservedly levelled through Ben Dronfield's drive from the edge of the area.
That left Oxspring Lowood as the only CBC Premier side to still get a
point after they slipped to defeat by local rivals Stocksbridge Park
Steels. Two set pieces saw Mark Carr and Mark Garrett head Steels into a
two goal half time lead and Davis added a third before James Smith pulled
one back.
Division One Davis double keeps Pitsmoor top, while Trickshots win at last
Pitsmoor Hotel maintained their place at the top of Division One with victory over Sheldon Athletic, but it was a celebration day for Trickshots after they gained their first points of the season in an eleven goal thriller with Sportsman Stannington.
Chris King twice put Sportsman in front only for Gary Cooper and Mark Tyler to level both times Johnny Dixon then put Trickshots ahead for the first time from the penalty spot and his second and one from Mark Groves extended their lead. Joe Lilley man and Jason Collier both netted to bring Sportsman back into the game after the break, but any thoughts they had of denying Trickshots went as Cooper and Tyler added two more for the home side.
Gavin Davis gave Pitsmoor Hotel the lead early in the first half, but there was just a quarter of the game left before he added their second. A Steve Cousin penalty then brought Sheldon back into the game, but James Pugh rounded the keeper to seal it for Pitsmoor.
Millhouses Abacrombie stayed second after pipping Park & Arbour LFS
in another thriller. Ben Woodman's free kick gave Abacrombie the lead only
to see Dan Smith cancel it out, but Will Dunwell's chip quickly had the
home side back in front. Smith then turned provider as his corner was
turned in by Darren Knowles to bring Park level again and they looked
likely winners when Smith put them ahead in the second half, but
Abacrombie levelled when Danny Turner met one of the longest throw-ins
your ever likely to see and when Park keeper flapped at a cross in injury
time it fell to fullback Adam Sturch to head their winner.
Mosborough Royal Oak stepped their promotion bid up with a hard earned win over The Park. Ben Prior put Oak ahead, but Alan Pickard cancelled it out before half time. Oak went back in front when Kevin Ford released Joe France (pictured right) and with just five minutes remaining, France turned provider for Ricky Davidson to score the clincher.
Devonshire moved up with their fifth win on the trot, 3-1 at home to Handsworth Old Boys. Ross Melas put Devonshire ahead in the first half and although Dave Griffiths cancelled it out after the break, Adrian Von Wurzbach put Devonshire back in front before Tom Colclough sealed it from close range.
Loxley twice led at Pen Nook through Colin Kirby and Mick Smith's unstoppable shot but Craig Barraclough's penalty after his brother Mark had been brought down and sub Ryan Cockayne's late strike earned the home side a point.
Division Two Brimington go goal crazy, while leaders held by unbeaten Blades
Elliott
Christie (pictured left) hit four and Nathan Gordon three as FC Brimington hit eleven at
Freemason Arms, while Civil Service's lead at the top was cut to a single
point after they let a two goal lead slip at still unbeaten Junior Blades.
Southey Social took second place off Oughtibridge Village by beating them
3-0 and Colley Club moved into the top three after twice coming from
behind to beat Bulls Head. Anston Athletic gained their first league win
at home to Fairbank-Rhodes, while John Kay's goal gave Hollin Bush victory
over Brinsworth Whitehill.
FC Brimington were the day's biggest winners after hitting bottom club Freemason Arms 11-1.Elliott Christie had Brimington in front very early in the game at Freemasons and he went on to add three more in the first half. Nathan Gordon flashed three home and Cliff Keeley two. Brimington’s others came from Michael Gartland and Andrew Crossland, while Lee Foreman netted Freemason’s only consolation.
Leaders Civil Service must have thought they had the game sewn up after Wes Bamford’s close range effort and Ben brown’s deflected shot had put them two up at Junior Blades. They had also had a very good penalty appeal turned down, but they took their foot off the pedal and paid the price as Junior Blades maintained their unbeaten record with Tom Crick’s first half reply and Jon Jackson’s leveller in the second half.
Right on the leaders hells is Southey Social after Chris Roberts, Mickey Bond and Lee Clayton strikes gave them victory over fellow title challengers Oughtibridge Village and close behind them is Colley club after they twice came from behind to beat Bulls Head. Max Oliver put the visitors in front midway through the first half, but against the run of play, Delroy Palmer grabbed an equalizer just before the break. In the second half, Adrian Stenton quickly had Bulls Head back in front, but Colley were having much more of the play than they had had before the break and this time deservedly levelled through Neil Whitworth. Both keepers then had to make fine saves as both sides went for a winner and it eventually came Colley way through Whitworth’s second of the game.
Hollin
Bush maintained their challenge as Josh Kay’s only goal of the game gave
them victory over Brinsworth Whitehill, while, after taking a first minute
lead, Anston Athletic never
looked back and celebrated their first league win, beating
Fairbank-Rhodes
4-0. Joe Bellamy netted twice and Adam Russell and Ryan Taff one each in a
game they pretty much dominated from start to finish. There was also
another solid display from Anston’s keeper Jon Parker.
Anston keeper set for England trial
Anston Athletic's young goalkeeper Jon Parker (pictured right) is set for an England Schoolboys trial at Blackburn next week. Jon plays for Wales High School near Worksop and his form for both his school and Anston has caught the eye of the selectors - we wish him well. The eighteen year old is a great example of how someone can overcome problems to succeed as he is a type 1 insulin dependent diabetic and he is living proof that young people can overcome such problems to participate in sport to a very high standard.
28 Oct 2007 - CBC Premier Nelson puts Ball at the top of the column
Super sub Danny Nelson netted twice as Blue Ball went to the top of the columnn with a 4-1 victory over Laycock Sports and just behind them on goal difference is Handsworth WMC after they pipped Woodhouse Angel in a seven goal thriller. Stannington Village led the table at the start of the day, but bottom club Oxspring Lowood came from behind three times to get their first point of the season. Hemsworth Villa came from two down to beat Ecclesfield Travellers, while Niagara won comfortably at Stocksbridge Park Steels.
Adam Podmore's far post header gave Ball a first half lead, but they were struggling to break down a stubborn Laycock Sports, so Danny Nelson was brought into the fray and he had an immediate impact by doubling Ball's lead. Sam Read pulled one back soon after, but Nelson restored Ball's two goal lead when he found himself unmarked in the box and the game was made safe when Joe Shaw converted Paul Marrison's cross.
Up to second are Handsworth WMC after they just pipped Woodhouse Angel in a seven goal thriller. Angel struck first through Michael Towey's free kick, but when Paul Renshaw's cross was fumbled by the Angel keeper, Andy Stevens was on hand to level. Handsworth then went in front as Robert Pratt got onto the end of Kieran Gallagher's cross and Gallagher made it three just before the break.
Angel hit back with a Murdoch strike, but the outstanding Matt Hodgett restored Handsworth's two goal lead soon after. Angel again pulled one back through Kirk Briddon's header, but they just couldn't force an equaliser.
Stannington Village started the day at the top, but despite leading three times they were held by bottom club Oxspring Lowood. Jack Mylnek gave Village the lead only to see it cancelled out by John Bryan before the break. Robert Fox's left foot shot trickled into the corner to restore Stannington's lead, but Oxspring hit back again as Andrew Horsfall headed home. When an own goal again gave Stannington the lead they looked to have won it, but Oxspring never gave up and levelled when Thomas Jowitt's shot took a wicked deflection past the stranded keeper.
Ecclesfield Travellers must have thought their revival was continuing to gather pace when two Danny Touehy strikes, including his one hundredth goal for the club, gave them a two goal half time lead, but a mad ten minutes saw Scott Moat pull one back, Keith Cronin's left foot drive equalise and Danny Milner's cross shot put Villa ahead. After that It needed several saves by Villa keeper Jamie King to keep Villa in front, but they managed to hold on.
Niagara FC managed their second win of the season against Stocksbridge PS, but made hard work of it! After good work by lone striker Chris Smith, Daniel Burgess tapped home from close range and five minutes later Niagara put themselves in the driving seat with a
James Shepherd (pictured left) free kick that was just too powerful for the keeper.
Stocksbridge came out after the break with all guns blazing and their pressure was soon made to count after with Adam Todd finishing off a well worked set piece. Niagara really had to dig deep to have any chance of going away with the points and it was the in form Ben Dronfield who put the game beyond the home side with two expertly taken goals. His first was a left foot drive giving the goalkeeper no chance and then a sweet right foot volley from a great cross by Burgess meant the game was effectively finished. Stocksbridge responded with a second goal from McSeveney to give themselves a glimmer of hope, but the points were sealed ten minutes from time when Simon Staniforth headed Dronfield's cross home.
Division One Turner's prize is top spot for Abacrombie
Danny Turner's prize for his hat-trick was to help Millhouses Abacrombie to a 4-1 victory at Mosborough Royal Oak and his side to the top of Division One. He gave the visitors the lead with a disputed penalty and after the break he made it two from Ben Woodman's corner. After he completed his hat-trick, Ally Berry's solo goal made it four before Ricky Davidson managed a consolation for Oak.
Sheldon Athletic grabbed their first away points of the season as two Steve Cousin's goals helped give them victory at Handsworth Old Boys. Chris Edwards bullet header gave Sheldon the lead until a terrific Trevor Jones goal cancelled it out. After the break Cousin's lobbed the keeper to restore Sheldon's advantage and although it looked like they would have to settle for a share of the spoils when Jones levelled for second time with just a minute to go, there was still just enough time for Cousin to scramble home the winner.
Park & Arbour LFS took an early lead at home to Pen Nook when Shaun Villiers beat the offside trap, but Nook were level before half time through Ryan Cockayne. Cockayne then turned provider as his pinpoint through ball allowed Craig Thickett to score and had it not been for several saves by Steve Whitehead, nook would have been out of sight and his efforts were rewarded when Darren Knowles met Graham Smith's long throw to equalise.
Division Two Old man Couldwell inspires Oughtibridge to the top
Oughtibridge Village went to the top of Division Two as doubles from Mick Smith Chris Smallwood and veteran Craig Couldwell along with an own goal gave them a 7-0 home win over Freemasons Arms. Colley Club would have beaten them to it if they had won at Brinsworth Whitehill, but despite leading at half time through Delroy Palmer, after second half goals by Aaron Turner and Bazil Nyomi had given Brinsworth the lead, Colley were relieved to come away with the point given to them by Ian Seward's late strike.
Anston Athletic had beaten Fairbank-Rhodes the week before, but this time it was Fairbank's turn to take the points. Joe Knight gave them the lead and although Ryan Taff levelled for Anston on the break, Knight's second had Fairbank back in front by half time. Knight completed his hat-trick after the break and Hilton Stratford made it four before Taff pulled another back for Anston.
County FA Sunday Cups Blades blunted by Christie treble, Walker leaves it late for The Park
Four of our clubs made progress in the County FA Junior Sunday Cup, where an Elliott Christie treble for FC Brimington helped cut the Junior Blades down in their all-Blades Super Draw tie. Andrew Crossland added a fourth and although the Blades pulled two back through Jon Jackson and Daniel Graham they never really threatened to get back into it.
Another all-Blades Super Draw tie saw The Park get through at Sportsman Stannington's expense. It looked like a winner would never come after Alex McKenzie had hit the bar with a header and Matt Hill had done the same with a free kick, but with penalties looming, Aaron Walker won it with the last kick of the game.
Division One leaders Pitsmoor Hotel were expected to beat their Division Two visitors Hollin Bush comfortably in the third all-Blades Super Draw tie, but when Steve Stenton put Bush in front they knew it wasn't going to be that easy. Paul Hinde levelled that up, but Dan Cooper put Bush back in front until an own goal pegged them back again.
When Chris Gascoine again put Bush ahead in extra time they must have thought they had won it,
but Hinde headed Pitsmoor's third to take the game to a penalty shoot out and two
Lee Chester (pictured right) saves took Pitsmoor through.
Civil Service also went through with an impressive performance giving them a 3-1 victory at Pheasant Inn. Lee Wild and Adam Firth hit two of the goals, but the pick of them was Simon Hall's (pictured left) twenty five yard screamer.
Goals by Tom and Liam Colclough weren't enough to stop Devonshire losing 4-2 at Denby Street Sportsman, and Trickshots went down to a narrower defeat as Gary Dixon's double and one from Gary Cooper were just not enough to stop Northern Avenue beating them 4-3.
Southey Social went out 4-1 at New Crown Handsworth, while Chris Whalley's goal for Loxley couldn't stop them going out by the same score at Brunsmeer Athletic B and in the Sunday Senior Cup both our last representatives went out to 3-0 defeats, Redmires, at home to Hemsworth United, and Woodhouse West End, at Westcliffe of Mexborough.