30-MAR - DIVISION 1 - Dickinson at the double to send Church second - Lewis Dickinson scored twice as Penistone Church beat promotion rivals Oughtibridge WM 3-0 to go second in the table. Oghtibridge had to win to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive, but it was the home side that took a first half lead when Dickinson scored from the edge of the area. Oughtibridge chased the game in the second half, but this inevitably allowed Church to hit them on the counter and after Dickinson grabbed his second, Tim Council made sure the points went to Church with his twenty fourth goal of the season.

26 - MAR - CBC PREMIER - Redmires keep Knagging away in the title chase - There were only a couple of games in the CBC Premier and both had implications at the top and bottom of the table. Redmires played one of their games in hand on leaders Stannington Village and came away from Wadsley Bridge Pheasant with a workmanlike 2-1 victory. Player-Manager Dave Knaggs (Left) gave his side the lead when he took advantage of a quick counter attack, and the lead was doubled in a matter of minutes when Jon Wall netted from the spot after George Rudd was sent tumbling in the area. Dylan Parrott pulled one back with a well taken free-kick and Adam Askwith hit the woodwork but Redmires held on for three important points.

In the other CBC Premier Division game, Norton Oaks “A” cemented their fourth place spot with a 3-1 away win at relegation threatened Civil Sports “A”. Dale Kay opened the scoring for the visitors on the half hour with a nice volleyed finish from close range but Civil levelled just after the break when Gary Eades was played through one on one and he made no mistake. Rich Conway restored the lead for Oaks with a finish from outside the area before Younes Mekhalfia secured the points with a well taken chip in the final ten minutes.

DIVISION 1 - Penistone pip Legion to become title favourites as Woodseats are held by Killamarsh - Despite not kicking a ball in anger because opponents Ecclesfield Players Lounge couldn’t raise a team, Intake Old Boys are now two points clear at the top of Division One after nearest challengers Woodseats Club and Killamarsh Juniors played out an amazing 4-4 thriller. Chris Savage opened the scoring in this remarkable game with a header but two goals in response had Woodseats ahead at the interval. Jack Marples headed Killamarsh level before Robin Holmes broke through to give the visitors a 3-2 lead. Woodseats responded again to level yet Savage’s second of the game made it 4-3 but in the closing stages Woodseats levelled matters with the eighth goal of an absorbing match which both teams are to be commended for. Goalscorers for Woodseats were Liam Bryan with a brace and one apiece from Chris Lees and Jake Slater. Action from the game is below - pictures by Mick Moat.

Penistone Church are right in the thick of the promotion race now following a 4-3 away win at Chapeltown RBL. Joe Littlewood opened the scoring with a shot from fully thirty yards which arrowed into the top corner of the Penistone net. The visitors then responded with three unanswered goals to lead at half time and then scored a fourth before Chapeltown substitute Joe Malone rifled in a low drive to give his side a glimmer of hope. Ash Burbeary reduced the arrears even more with a superb shot that crashed in off the bar but Legion couldn’t find a fourth to gain a deserved point. Dickinson with two, and singles from Savage and Council were on target for Church.

DIVISION 2 - Phillips treble stuns View, as Sportsman leave Village looking over their shoulders - Norton Sportsman moved four points clear at the top of Division Two thanks to a 3-1 away win at third placed Woodhouse Village. They got off the perfect start with a goal in the first five minutes when top scorer Brad Bowland volleyed home a Jack Waymouth cross, and the same player scored the second on the quarter hour mark with a cool lob over the Woodhouse custodian. Danny Rogers added a third five minutes before the interval with a cross-cum-shot that eluded everyone and crept into the net. Theo Wilson pulled one back for Village but Sportsman were good value for their win and could have scored more in the second half if it wasn’t for a hatful for missed chances.

Nearest title rivals Cobden View suffered a jolt as Civil Sports “B” avenged their 8-1 loss earlier in the season by recording a superb 4-1 away win. It was 1-1 at half time as goals from Tim Pitt and Jed Phillips (right) shared the spoils but Dave Firth’s men took the second half by the scruff of the proverbial neck to inflict a rare loss on second placed Cobden. Phillips scored twice to complete another hat-trick whilst Joe Taylor also scored for Civil and they now lie six points behind Woodhouse Village with two matches in hand. Referee Paul Matthewson drew praise for his excellent handling of the game.

Recording their first win since January are Norton Oaks “B” as they edged a close encounter with Colley; 3-2. Jay Donnelly took advantage of some sloppy Colley defending to put the visiting team ahead before Jack Wheywell equalised after a goalmouth scramble and that’s how it stayed at half time. James Borrill’s first of the morning restored Oaks’ lead before Joe Buxton missed a glorious chance to level when he hit the post after Colley were awarded a penalty. Borrill then showed how it was done when he converted from the spot for Oaks to put them 3-1 to the good. With five minutes left former Loxley striker Anthony Marshall reduced it to 2-3 but the home side couldn’t force another to ensure a share of the spoils.

Woodseats Chantrey continued their good run of form as they defeated Steelers 4-1. Fraser Oxley gave the away side the lead in the twenty-fifth minute and could have doubled the lead nine minutes later from the penalty spot but Chantrey goalkeeper Scott Green pulled off a fantastic save to deny him. Gavin Sambrook continued his good run of goalscoring form to level matters before man of the match Brad Gray put the hosts 2-1 ahead at half time with a nice finish from fifteen yards out. Gray’s second of the morning extended it to 3-1 following some good work from Ryan Barker and the points were secure when Ben Raynes got his reward by notching number four: his first goal of the season. In the final Division Two game, The Shakey overcame their hosts Woodhouse Juniors 3-2. Woodhouse scored through Matt Megson and Josh Poulton, but a brace from Billy Hilbert and an own goal were enough to see the points leave with the away team.

5 - MAR - CBC PREMIER - Torr extends Stannington's lead - Alex Torr’s 28^th goal of the season proved to be the only goal of the game as Stannington Village extended their lead at the top of the CBC Premier to four points. Hallam are still trying to get sufficient points to avoid a bottom three finish and started the game on the front foot and thought they had taken a deserved lead when Jack Waddle’s shot beat the keeper, but a desperate clearance stopped the ball from crossing the line. It proved to be the pivotal moment in the game as Stannington swept forward from the clearance and when Adam Todd received the ball on the right he produced an inch perfect cross for Torr (left) to chest the ball past the Hallam keeper. Hallam continued to press the leaders, but it was Stannington that had the best chances to increase their lead with Charlie Hobson missing a free header in the six yard box and Torr bringing out a point blank save from the Hallam keeper.

Current champions Wadsley Bridge Pheasant are still in danger of the drop after Alan Mowforth and Danny Reet doubles helped Norton Oaks A to a 6-3 victory over them. Alan Mowforth opened the scoring for Oaks when he steered in Younes Mekhalfia's cross after just 30 secs. Danny Reet drilled in a low strike off the far post to double the lead midway through the half. Pheasant pulled one back when Oaks keeper Ben Birtles spilled a soft strike and Danny Barnsley accepted the gift to put Pheasant back into the game and they levelled before half-time with a good strike from Adam Askwith.

The second half started just like the first with Oaks making it 3-2 after just 30 secs when Liam Paterson went through and found the corner of the net. Younes Mekhalfia was a threat all game and his Man of the Match performance was rewarded with a goal when he tapped in from close range following a Paterson shot, but Pheasant kept the game alive when Barnsley claimed his second when he got the slightest touch to a corner. Pheasant threw bodies forward in search of an equaliser, but Norton caught them on the break twice with Reet and Mowforth both hit their second of the game to make the final score 6-3 to Oaks. Referee Paul Cooper also received praise for his handling of the game in very difficult conditions.

Brinsworth Whitehill continued their excellent season with a 7-0 win over an understrength Woodhouse Angel. Brinsworth attacked from the off, but the Woodhouse keeper was getting a hand to everything and when he was eventually beaten it came in the cruellest of fashion with an own goal. After that, Brinsworth gathered more pace and got a second with Cory Goodwin and then a third before half time through Adam Daughtrey. Just after the break, Daughtrey got his second and, after good work from man of the match Adam Pursehouse. Goodwin made it five. Kris Lee-Green made it six with his first goal for the club, before Ainsley Finney rounded up the scoring to make the final score 7-0.

DIVISION 1 - Top two both lose to promotion rivals, but Penistone make no mistake and confirm Dale's relegation - In Division One, both the top two suffered home defeats at the hands of promotion rivals.  Leaders Woodseats Club faced third place Intake Old Boys and although Intake had nothing like their strongest side they took the lead when Jack Heald picked the ball up in midfield and ran towards to net and unleashed a twenty yard rocket into the top corner. They doubled their lead with another spectacular goal when Josh Shutt played a one-two with James Colliver before finding the top corner from twenty five yards. Callum Flanagan pulled one back for Woodseats, but Intake made the points safe when a flick-on from Darren Robinson found Alex Rippon and he curled his fifteenth of the season into the top corner. Action from the game is below - pictures by Mick Moat.

Second place Oughtibridge WM entertained fourth place Killamarsh Juniors and it was the visitors that took the lead when Robin Holmes’s cross shot looped over the keeper. Ross Brown levelled for Oughtibridge, but Killamarsh went back in front when Innocent Huley headed home and that was quickly followed by Holmes heading his second of the game. The second half saw Killamarsh reduced to ten men and Oughtibridge took full advantage to level with two Justin Westoby strikes, but Killamarsh went back in front when the keeper could only parry a Callum Woods shot and Ryan Hall tucked the ball home. Oughtibridge rallied again and levelled through Callum Chambers, but Killamarsh defied the odds and won it when Hall left the keeper rooted to the spot with an unstoppable free kick from thirty yards, leaving Oughtibridge Intake and Killamarsh all on twenty nine points.

Penistone Church has at least four games in hand on all the four sides above them and they made no mistake as a Lewis Dickinson hat-trick together with a Tim Council double and singles from Danny Howes and Scott Briggs gave them a 7-0 victory over Dale WMC, a result that confirms a bottom two finish for Dale. Chapeltown RBL also kept their promotion hopes going with a 7-1 win over an Ecclesfield Players Lounge they will meet in the Sunday Junior Cup semi-finals in a couple of weeks time. RBL started strong and Andy Varns continued his goal scoring streak with a close range header, before a mazy run and finish from Brad Beatson doubled their lead before half time. A sweet strike by skipper Danny Cardwell with his weak foot extended the lead at the start of the second half and then RBL started going through the gears, Beatson got his second before Ryan Robinson drilled in the fifth. Gavin Hunter pulled one back for Ecclesfield before sub Tom Wright got in on the act before goal scoring defender Robinson competed the scoring with a bulletproof header from a great delivery by Matt Bruck.

Ecclesfield now need to win all their remaining six games to have even the remotest chance of avoiding a bottom two finish, but Ranch improved their chances of avoiding the drop with a 4-1 victory at Southey Social. Ranch took an early lead when Ryan Lamkin headed home and quickly doubled it when the keeper pushed out a shot only to see it strike Matthew Betts and rebound into his own goal. The second half saw Southey’s Todd Guest see a header saved, but they reduce the arrears Guest scored following a corner. Only a terrific save by the Ranch keeper stopped Guest levelling the scores, but Ranch restored their two goal lead with a well worked goal from Ash Betts, before Danny Foster added a late debut goal to kill the game off.

DIVISION 2 - Bell rings out as Cobden improve their view - Cobden View are just one win away from guaranteed promotion from Division Two after a Ben Bell double helped them to a 4-2 victory over a Woodhouse Village they leapfrogged into second place. Village, missing several players, took the lead through Olly Grady’s twenty five yard screamer, but it was Cobden that led at the break after Bell’s first and a Tim Pitt strike. The second half saw Matt Lancashire concede a penalty, put away by Joe Taylor, but Woodhouse hit back with a Greg Burgin header. Woodhouse pushed hard for an equaliser, but when Lancashire conceded a second penalty it allowed Bell to score his second. Woodhouse pushed hard to get back into it and Theo Wilson twice went close, Grady shot just wide and Joe Moakes clipped the bar from twenty five yards, but Cobden held on for the win that puts them a point behind leaders Norton Sportsman.

Woodseats Chantrey climbed out of the bottom three with a 3-1 victory over a Shakey that slipped to second bottom. Shakey led at half time with a Billy Hilbert goal, but the second half saw Chantrey come out flying and equalised with a delightful back heel from Charlie Hawkins. Chantrey went ahead when Gavin Sambrook read an inch perfect precision pass from Lewis Askwith and his bravery saw him get there before the on-rushing keeper. Chantrey secured victory with a bullet header from Ben Dronfield from a corner.

The day’s final game saw a real thriller at Crookes & District where both teams recovered from being two goals down to share the points with a 4-4 draw. Crookes went two up through Matt ward and Jonnie Butler, but two from Joe Armitage, an own goal and one from Frazer Oxley saw Steelers go 4-2 in front. Crookes hit back though and deservedly took a point with two Jordan Coates goals.