14 APRIL – LEAGUE CUP FINAL – Bramall Lane date of Tuesday 12 May set for our League Cup Final – The date for the League Cup Final between Royal Earl and Wadsley Bridge Sixers at Bramall Lane has been set for Tuesday 12 May with a 7:15 kick-off.

12 APRIL – CBC PREMIER – Stannington stay in the title hunt and Southey boost their survival hopes – Stannington Village beat Jubilee Rangers 4-2 to keep their title hopes alive, but leaders Royal Earl need to win just one of their final two games to retain their title. Jubilee are fighting to stay up and took the lead when Luke Campbell scrambled the ball home, but Stannington hit back to level when Niall Butchart sidefooted the ball into the top corner. Undeterred by that it was Jubilee that went into the half time break with the lead after Alfie Smith headed home.

Stannington stepped up a gear after the break and levelled a second time when Niall Loughins shot was saved, but the rebound fell kindly for Leo Higgins to score. Stannington went in front when Sami Eric robbed a defender before chipping the keeper and the clinched the points 5 minutes from time when Tom Staniland’s free kick was parried to Luca DeFalco and he netted his seventh of the season.

At the other end of the table, that defeat for Jubilee boosted Southey Social’s survival hopes and they were further boosted by a 3-1 victory over the already relegated Woodman. Southey took a first half lead when Byron Mullen’s throw was headed on by Kieran Hopkinson and Carlton Carty volleyed home from 6 yards.

The second half saw Southey’s lead doubled when a Jack Dickens cross was turned into his own net by a defender, but Woodman got back into the match with a Kai Walker strike. Southey quickly restored their two goal lead when Mullen set Ryan Whitney up for an easy finish and even though Carty and Dickens both hit the woodwork Southey couldn’t add to it. Action from the game is below - pictures from Ian Anderson.

Southey were further helped by Chapeltown RBL’s 1-0 defeat at a Wickersley CC aiming for the runner-up spot. After a cagey, goalless first half the game sprang into life after the break and became an end-to-end battle. Adam Todd saw his effort cleared off the line and the game looked to be swinging RBL’s way when Wickersley were reduced to 10 men. The Wickersley defence held firm though and with time running out it was Wickersley that grabbed a dramatic winner when Owen Kelly scored.

12 APRIL - DIVISION 1 – Loca are promoted, but the chase below them goes large – Loca reclaimed top spot and guaranteed promotion with a narrow 2-1 victory at AC Wisewood. They took the lead when Jamie Goldenburgh set Cammy Evans up and found the net with a 30 yard strike, but Wisewood levelled with an equally impressive strike by Will Osgathorpe. Goldenburgh again provided the assist when a third impressive strike, this time by Mitch Carlton won it for Loca to take them back to the top and guarantee promotion.

The two clubs chasing the final promotion place both had big wins. Mosborough Reds beat Kelham Island 8-1 and Crookes won 7-1 at Cotts. Mosborough took just 6 minutes to take the lead with a Will Hotchin strike and they soon doubled it when Ash Hotchin chipped the keeper. Will Hotchin then netted his second when his keeper flew straight into the net. Matt Ellis made it four with a shot from the edge of the area and it was five before half-time when Ben Dronfield headed home.

After the break Matt Ellis scored his second of the game to take his tally for the season to fourteen, before Montelle netted his first goal for Mosborough to make it seven. Billy Kitchen hit number eight before Kelham scored their consolation through Alex Simons.

Crookes were just as impressive in their 7-1 win at Crookes. Dylan Murphy met a cross to give Crookes an early lead and it was doubled when Harvey Allatt met a corner to score. Oli McQuillin made it three before half-time and both he and Murphy scored two each to complete hat-tricks in the second half. Jake Abrahams netted Cotts consolation. Crookes must now rely on winning their final game and Mosborough Reds not winning both of their final two games.

11 APRIL - DIVISION 1 – Baby Shark Resign from the League – The League is sorry to report that Baby Shark has resigned from the League. Because the team had completed 75% of its games this season, all their remaining games will be awarded to their opponents.

9 APRIL - DIVISION 1 – Barker's late show rescues a point for Reds – After scoring a late goal in the first half, Harry Barker scored an even later goal in the second half to rescue a point for Mosborough Reds at promotion rivals Loca FC. A terrific through ball from Danny Richards allowed Cam Evans to give Loca the lead and only a last ditch tackle stopped Michael Golland from doubling the lead. Reds grew into the game and in the last few minutes of the first half a long throw was flicked on for Barker to strike the ball home at the back post.

The second half saw both teams going for a winner and it looked like it was Loca that would take maximum points when Kurtis Havenhand struck a terrific free kick from 30 yards into the top corner. Reds kept plugging away without testing the Loca keeper until the last minute when Barker raced onto a through ball, rounded the keeper and coolly put the ball into the net. The resuult means that both Loca and Reds can still take the title and both need just two wins to secure promotion.

6 APRIL – MONTAGU CUP – BIG BEN CLINCHES BIG WIN FOR HISTORY MAKERS WICKERSLEY  – In an endearing storyline as old as the Mexborough Montagu Cup itself - underdogs upsetting the odds in the big final. Well, history-makers Wickersley CC can now be added to the list of those who have stunned the favourites on Easter Monday. Unfancied everywhere except in their own dressing room, Wickersley shocked the favourites Gate Inn by edging a tight final 2-1 after extra-time in front of 1,475 at Mexborough Athletic.

They deserved it too, veteran Ben Thornton - a big handful all game for the Gate back line - netting the winner just five minutes from the end with the calmest of finishes. It also completed a personal hat-trick as he was in the AFP side which won the Mont in 2014 and 2016 (also scoring in that one). They are the first side from Wickersley to lift the coveted trophy in the competition’s 129 years and also the first side from the Blades Super Draw League to do so. Consider that they knocked out local giants Westville in the semi-final and now Gate, clear leaders of the Rotherham Sunday League and, like Westville, through to the Sheffield Sunday Senior Cup Final on April 19th. Some double that!

Wickersley started brightly and got the boost of an 8th minute goal. Louis Seddons, a lively threat throughout wide left, got clear on that side and his low ball in was diverted into his own net by Jack Greeves with Thornton behind him waiting to do the same. Inside 60 seconds Greeves almost redeemed himself with a header from a corner which Pete Smith superbly turned away.

The early setback had jolted Gate into decisive action and they should have levelled only for Steve Taylor to put a great chance wide. But the equaliser did come on the half-hour, Nathan Walsh finding himself in space from a through ball. He lifted his effort past the advancing Smith and Jordan Pilling helped himself to one of the Mont’s easiest-ever goals from about a yard out. Josh Hemmingway and Josh Stead both fired over, but Wickersley went closest right on half-time, Reece Dudhill clearing off the line from a header by Liam Tomlinson.

The teams rather cancelled each out in the second half, Wickersley’s teamwork nullifying the prolific Gate attack although Greeves powered a header straight at the keeper. Both Seddons and sub Dec Mullane, with more time than he probably realised, could have snatched it late on for Wickersley. Man of the Match Thornton (pictured right receiving his award) fired just over following a free-kick at the start of extra-time and Taylor almost broke the deadlock moments after the second period started.

With thoughts turning to penalties and 115 minutes on the clock, a Gate threat was checked inside the area, and from deep inside his own half, Mullane’s longest of long balls drifted on the breeze, down the famous slope and, suddenly, Thornton’s eyes lit up. He realised that the ball was carrying beyond his marker and he eased onto it and was clear.

Breaths were held… time stood still… but the veteran striker kept a cool head and sidefooted calmly wide of the advancing Hayden Barnett and just inside the left hand post. Gate looked stunned, couldn’t mount a late surge and so Wickersley went into the history books. Thornton was named Man of the Match edging out centre half Nathan Taylor (left) who had an outstanding game as Wickersley rose to the occasion as a team and no one could begrudge them their triumph. (report courtesy of Les Payne) Pictures from the game including Ben Thornton scoring the winner, are below

WICKERSLEY CC: Smith; Kelly, Taylor, Cuckson, Claxton; France (McGann 105), Tomlinson (Nix 105); Hardeman (Mullane 60), Daughtry, Seddons (Godley 118); Thornton. Unused: Kemp.

GATE INN: Barnett; Dudhill, Ardron, Greeves (Hough 68), Blackwood; James (Middleton 117), Hemmingway (Hancock 100), Stead; Pilling, Walsh, Taylor. Unused: Moore.

Referee: Roger Webb (Mexborough).