29 MARCH – MONTAGU CUP – Wickersley CC in the Montagu Cup Final on Easter Monday – After victory over the Mexborough Sunday League Champions Westville, Wickersley CC will face the Rotherham & District Premier Division leaders The Gate Inn in the Montagu Cup Final on Easter Monday, 6 April at Mexborough Athletic's Firepart Stadium on Hampden Road, Mexborough S64 9JN. The game has an 11am kick-off and entrance - CASH ONLY - is £4 for Adults, £2 for Concessions and Children of Primary School age are free if accompanied by an adult. Receipts are primarily donated to the Montagu Hospital Comforts Fund. More detail about the competition can be found at https://www.montagucup.com/. The competition is believed to be the world's oldest to be still played at its original venue. Go along and support Wickersley.

29 MARCH – LEAGUE CUP – Brandon Bags a Final spot for Earl – Royal Earl went through to their 4th final in 5 years after Brandon Bagley hit a second half winner in the second semi-final against Nailmakers. Pictured right is Bagley on the left celebrating his winner (picture courtesy of Ian Anderson). In difficult conditions it was Earl that struck first when a corner was flicked onto the back post and Owen Haigh applied the finish. Earl began to dominate and only a terrific save by Nailmakers keeper Luke Herriott stopped Earl doubling their lead. It was quickly followed by an even more amazing goal line block by Ryan Goodison to again keep Earl out.

As the game approached half-time Nailmakers began to get a foothold in the game and that continued straight after the break when Jay Glover fed Sam Read and his shot beat the keeper to bring Nailmakers level. Both sides continued to go toe-to-toe, but Earl eventually began to get on top and only another great save by Herriott stopped them going back in front. He then pushed another shot onto the bar and pushed the follow up onto the post but Bagley was first to the rebound and he tucked the ball into the corner of the net to give Earl a 2-1 win. More action from the game is below, courtesy of Ian Anderson:

Royal Earl will play Wadsley Bridge Sixers in the final later in the season.

29 MARCH – CBC PREMIER – Joel Purks Stannington up and Lamkin boosts Jubilee's survival – A late Joel Purkiss goal against Boynton Sports gave Stannington Village a 3-2 win that keeps them in the title race. Jake Gamban gave Boynton the lead until it was cancelled out when Sam Hackett played the ball to Aemad Gadour and he cut inside before bending the ball into the top corner.

Boynton re-took the lead with a Jack Bennett strike and looked as if they might hold on, but a good cross by Brad Worsfold was volleyed home by Connor Platts and in the final minutes Gadour squared the ball for Joel Purkiss to hit Stannington’s winner.

At the other end of the table Jubilee Rangers took a big step towards safety as a Ross Lamkin hat-trick helped them to a 4-1 victory at Eckington MW. Jubilee looked the more likely to score and gained a first half lead when Liam Hill-Simmons crossed for Lamkin to score. Jubilee continued to look the more likely to score after the break and doubled their lead when Adam Darton’s shot was saved by the keeper, but Lamkin was on hand to push home the rebound.

Hill-Simmons then blasted home a third for Jubilee, but Eckington pulled one back when they were awarded a penalty and Ethan Flower beat the keeper from the spot. Any thought of a comeback was soon quashed when Lamkin volleyed into the top corner to complete his hat-trick and seal the points for Jubilee.

What made it better day for Jubilee was that the two teams just below them both suffered narrow defeats. Chapeltown RBL slipped to a narrow 2-1 home defeat against Wadsley Bridge Sixers. After a goalless first half, Sixers should have gone in front when they were awarded a penalty, but, for the second week in a row, RBL keeper produced a great save to keep the game level.

From the save the ball was swept upfield and when Charlie Cope crossed, left back Jacob Walkland was on hand to sweep the ball home to give RBL the lead. RBL then missed several chances to double their lead and the paid for those misses when a well worked corner routine allowed Brad Howe to equalise and it got worse for RBL when Chris Belshaw grabbed a winner for Sixers.

Southey Social also couldn’t keep pace with Jubilee and suffered a 3-2 defeat at Wickersley CC. Wickersley took a deserved lead when Matt Claxton latched onto a loose ball before firing home from close range. Southey then grew into the game and after Jack Hawkes had missed a sitter, a long throw into the box fell to Todd Guest and he beat the keeper.

The second half saw Southey make a fast start and Ryan Hall smashed the ball into the top corner from 25 yards to put them ahead. Byron Mullen then missed a great chance to double Southey’s lead and instead it was Wickersley that started to dominate and they equalised with an Alex Kemp header at the back post. Hawkes then had another chance saved by the Wickersley keeper and instead it was Wickersley that grabbed the winner when Claxton’s overhead kick nestled in the bottom corner.

29 MARCH - DIVISION 1 – Gibson's the guy as Hackenthorpe bust Loca's home record – Two late Chad Gibson goals saw leaders Hackenthorpe end second place Loca's unbeaten home record to improve Hackenthorpe’s chances of taking the title. That result didn’t look likely when Loca completed a good start by taking the lead. Michael Golland headed the ball across goal for Jamie Hopkins to smash the ball into the roof of the net to give Loca a half-time lead.

It was a complete change in the second half with Hackenthorpe dominating affairs. They still couldn’t break down a resilient Loca defence until with time running out Gibson unleashed a 25 yard thunderbolt into the top corner. In the final minutes a scramble in the box saw Travis Vintin push the ball for Gibson to hit the winner and end Loca’s record. Loca can still overtake the leaders, but may now have to win all their remaining games to do it.

That defeat saw Loca slip a place as Mosborough Reds moved up to second with a 2-0 victory over Cotts. Although Cotts were reduced to ten men they kept the game goalless until the hour mark when a Billy Kitchen shot gave Reds the lead. Soon after a whipped in cross saw Kitchen head his second at the front post to seal the points for Reds.

AFC Wisewood's chances of a top three finish were hit when they lost a 3 goal lead before drawing 3-3 with Brunsmeer. Two from Will Osgathorpe and one from Alfie Wright gave Wisewood a three goal lead early in the second half, but Brunsmeer woke up and claimed a point thanks to goals from Ollie Tracey, Charlie Wheatley and Brad Leather.

Jonathan Fusco hit a hat-trick as Baby Shark won 5-2 at Kelham Island. One for Fusco and one for Kenneth Obazuaye saw the teams level at half-time. Another from Obazuaye and one from Jahmal Riley saw the teams level at 2-2 with just 5 minutes remaining, but a penalty turned the game Sharks way. Fusco scored twice to complete his hat-trick with one from Jordan Slew.

24 MARCH – Fixtures for APRIL & MAY now shown - The Fixtures & Referees for APRIL & MAY have been added to the Fixtures section of the League website – www.sssl.org.uk. Home teams must confirm their pitch is available and booked ASAP. There could be fixture changes if either pitches or referees aren't available on the dates shown.