1 MARCH – CBC PREMIER – Earl make it an unlucky 13 for the rest – Royal Earl widened their lead at the top to 13 points with an emphatic 4-1 victory at second place Wadsley Bridge Sixers. Royal Earl captain Joe Turner made it 1-0 after 6 mins with a header from a corner, but Sixes hit back to level before half-time with a Kane Doughty finish. The second half saw Earl retake the lead with a Connor Chapell penalty before Brandon Bagley made it 3-1 with a nice finish. Ashley Cooper made it 4-1 with a simple tap-in.

Stannington Village lost ground in the title race when they were held to a goalless draw by relegation threatened Nailmakers. With a very depleted Nailmakers squad it was as expected that Stannington took the game to them, but offered very little in the first half and it could have been Nailmakers that took the lead when a good save stopped Jack Joyce scoring with a header. In the second half Stannington rung in the changes, but Nailmakers kept strong and dealt with everything, the only attempt Stannington had on target in the half came when Luca DeFalco went through, but it was tipped around the post by keeper Luke Herriott.

Eckington kept up the chase for a top two finish with a hard earned 2-1 victory at Woodman. Eckington took advantage of a Woodman having to start with 10 men and scored n the first few minutes when a corner into the box was headed down by Lestyn Jones for Aiden Horspool to tap home. Despite Woodman coming into the game more, Eckington doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Horspool was played in down the left hand side to fire home. A very competitive and even matched second half saw Woodman scored deep into the second half when a corner was headed home at the back post by Shaun Garwell, and they were denied a point by a great save from a free kick. Pictures, right and below, from this game are courtesy of Ian Anderson.

Wickersley CC produced one of their best performances of the season to win 4-0 at a Boynton Sports pushing to get into the top five. A first half that saw Wickersley dominate proceedings, but just couldn't quite find that final ball or finish until a great bit of one touch play saw James Hardemen find space and whip a ball to the back post for Ben Thornton to finish.

It stayed like that until the second half with Boynton starting well and pushing Wickersley back, but a good bit of pressing then saw Liam Tomlinson win the ball high up, play a 1 -2 before finding the top corner. Wickersley then took over the game and scored a third when a quick free kick allowed Nathan Taylor to square it for Adam Daughtrey to score. James Hardemen wrapped the scoring up with a tidy finish.

Jubilee climbed out of the bottom three with their second away win of the season, 3-1 at Chapeltown RBL. RBL made the perfect start but were ultimately undone by a clinical Jubilee side. RBLopened the scoring when a dangerous in-swinging corner from Charlie Cope caused problems in the six-yard box and the returning Farbod Yousefi reacted quickest, flicking the ball in at the near post to give RBL a deserved early lead.

It was a bright, energetic opening from RBL, who looked sharp and organised, but Jubilee, responded with composure. They began to control possession and found their equaliser midway through the half, capitalising on a defensive lapse to draw level when Ross Lamkin found himself free to head home. Jubilee got their noses in front before the interval when Liam Hill-Simmons took matters into his own hands and fired home a 20 yard strike to the bottom corner.

RBL pushed to get back into the contest, showing determination and commitment, but clear-cut chances proved hard to come by against a disciplined Jubilee defence. As the game stretched late on, Jubilee made sure of the result with a third goal, when some good midfield work saw a ball fired across for Luke Campbell to tap home to put the outcome beyond doubt.

1 MARCH - DIVISION 1 – Cotts give the leaders a scare – Leaders Hackenthorpe battle to a hard-earned 1-0 victory at Cotts FC. In a scrappy contest played on a terrible pitch, where quality had to shine through sheer determination. Despite the conditions both teams dug deep, competed for every ball, but it was Hackenthorpe that found the moment of quality to take the points.

The breakthrough came in the second half when Harrison Case showed great pace to break away down the flank before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box and waiting at the back post was Xavier Dandrade, who kept his composure and tapped home to seal the win. At the other end, Aston Thompson was an absolute rock once again — dominant in the air, strong in the tackle, and organising everything in front of him to gain a fully deserved Man of the Match award, although Cotts veteran keeper James Newsome pushed him close.

Crookes come from behind to beat Norton Oaks 3-1 and stay in the promotion chase. Crookes were shocked when Oaks took the lead after a corner wasn’t cleared and James Addy tapped it in. Crookes began to create chances and finally replied when Dylan Murphy tapped home a cross to make it level at the break. Norton started the second half well, but it was Crookes that eventually took the lead through Ben Emsley from a corner. Crookes then wrapped up the points with a Cam Ronksley volley.

Loca FC kept up their title chase with a magnificent 7-1 victory over Kelham Island. Loca made a fast start and Jordan Thomas, with the help of Ollie Grady, put them ahead inside 5 minutes. Curtis Modest doubled their lead soon after, set up by Djamel Otmani. Logan Liggins made it three before halt-time from the penalty spot.

The second half saw Jamie Hopkins, on his return bend a 30-yard free kick into the bottom corner, before a foul on Ollie Grady gave Liggins the chance to score his second penalty. Callum Spencer decided subtlety was overrated and lashed one from 25 yards into the top corner, before Kelham grabbed a consolation through Kenneth Obazuaye, but it was Loca that completed the scoring when clever play down the left from Michael Golland, allowed Liggins to complete his hat-trick.