14 SEP – SUNDAY CUP – Hopkins too sixy for Darnall & Joel Purks up Village – Southey Social thrashed Imperial League Darnall Urban 10-1 with Jamie Hopkins hitting 6 goals. Southey took an early lead when Jamie Hopkins fired in from the edge of the box, before getting his 2nd with a header from a corner. Darnall pulled one back from a corner, but Elliot Fox fired home a screamer from 25yd to make it 3-1 at the break. The second half was one-way traffic. Keanan Wainwright fired home from the edge of the box just after the restart to make it 4 before Hopkins missed a penalty. Hopkins then added 4 to take his tally to 6 before sub Jack Hawkes scored twice.

Not far behind Hopkins was Joel Purkiss who hit 5 as Stannington Village won 6-0 at another Imperial side #Bornballers. Stannington Village took the lead when Luca DeFalco was clipped in the box and Joel Purkiss scored from the spot. It was 2-0 when a 25 yard shot from Purkiss went through the keepers legs and 3-0 just after half time when Purkiss won the ball and chipped the keeper from 45 yards. Travis Hodgson played a neat 1-2 with Declan Childers and finished well in the bottom corner to make it 4 and it was 5-0 when Hodgson found Purkiss in the box and he finished well in the corner. A ball from Leo Higgins found Purkiss again and he rounded the keeper for his 5^th to complete the scoring.

Chapeltown RBL ran out 4-2 winners at Swinton Ring O'Bells in Niall Smith's first competitive game as manager. Morgan Cowell opened the scoring with a calm finish before Dave Millen added a second before half-time. After the break RBL nearly made it 3-0, but Swinton went straight to the other end to halve the deficit. Against the run of play Swinton levelled but within 2 minutes RBL regained the lead as Cowell netted his second. Former manager Adam Todd made sure RBL progressed as he tapped in following great work by Man of the Match Luis Afonso-Ferreira.

Both Wadsley Bridge Sixers and Wickersley CC suffered narrow defeats, with Sixers losing 1-0 at Birdwell Rovers and Wickersley CC losing 2-1 at home against Edlington Top Club. In the first half Wickersley created plenty, but just couldnt capitalise and Edlington Top Club scored both their chances to lead 2-0 at the break. The second half saw Wickersley dominate the ball, but the visitors defended everything, making Adam Daughtrey’s goal in added time just a consolation.

14 SEP – CBC PREMIER – Narrow wins for Royal Earl and Eckington MW – Champions Royal Earl made it two wins out of two without conceding a goal with a narrow 1-0 victory over Jubilee Rangers. A tight game was won when sub and manager Sam Smith rolled back the years to finish off a scramble in the box.

Eckington maintained their positive start with a 2-1 home win over Nailmakers. Eckington took the lead in the 20th minute when good work from Adam Stubbs made the opening for new signing Lestyn Jones to fire home from the edge of the box. Eckington grabbed a second in the 61st minute when the ball fell to Owen Ryan who powered home. Nailmakers got one back in the 80th minute when a free kick into the box was eventually smashed home by Tom Crick, but Eckington held on to claim the 3 points.

14 SEP - DIVISION 1 – Loca make the Grade and Wisewood stay Civil to the end – Oli Grady hit a hat-trick as Loca maintained their perfect start with a 5-2 victory over Crookes. Crookes took lead early on through Jim Pollard, but Loca hit straight back with an equalizer from Grady. Grady then put Loca in front, but It was Crookes’ turn to equalize with an Oli McQuillin penalty to make it all square at the break. The second half saw Grady complete his hat-trick to put Loca in front again and they made it safe with one from Logan Liggins to continue his run of goals in every game and a long cross from Jordan Thomas that flew over everyone into the net.

AFC Wisewood also kept their 100% record Matt Civil’s last gasp goal gave them a 2-1 win against Thorncliffe Villa.  It looked as if the sides would go in level at the break until Charlie Beachell netted for Wisewood. The second half saw Finn Taylor scored from the penalty spot to even the scores and it looked like the sides would share the spoils until Civil’s last minute winner.

Cotts gained their first win of the season 3-2 at home against Baby Shark. Cotts started well and soon took the lead with a Ty Gunter goal and then went 2-0 up thanks to a chance well taken by Chance Migabo. Lanzel Reid pulled one back for Shark before half time, but Cotts restored their two goal lead with Chris Salt’s impressive header in the second half. Baby Shark scored a late Fabian Johnson penalty, but Cotts remained disciplined to take the 3-2 victory.

AFC Centre Spot also got their first win, 4-2 at Norton Oaks. Zen Khan netted two for Spot along with one each for Alex Palmer and Tom Roberts, while Joe Casey and Will Carlisle netted for Oaks. Hackenthorpe went third in the table with a 3-1 victory at Kelham Island. Hackenthorpe started brightly, taking an early lead through Callum Foster, who finished off a slick team move following a well-timed assist from Harrison Case. Kelham Island responded with an equaliser when a dangerous cross allowed Amine Ben-Nasser to score with a well-placed header.

Hackenthorpe regained control before the break with a moment of brilliance from Chad Gibson, who fired home a stunning 25-yard strike into the bottom corner after being set up by Harvey Staniland. The second half proved to be a scrappy affair, with few clear chances for either side. However, Hackenthorpe sealed the win late on with a textbook counterattack. Gibson turned provider this time, laying it off for Foster to grab his second of the match and and fourth of the season. Hackenthorpe’s Man of the Match honours went to Joe Lister, who impressed in his first game back after a spell out, putting in a composed and commanding performance

Mosborough Reds and Brunsmeer shared the points after a 3-3 thriller. Reds went in front when they were awarded a penalty in the first minute after Alfie Knowles was brought down. Oliver Tupling  scored from the spot, but two Billy Gillott strikes and one from Harry Groombridge had Brunsmeer 3-1 up at the break. Reds pulled one back after 69 minutes with Ryan Greaves’ second goal in as many games and just 3 minutes from time Jamie Damms earned Reds a share of the spoils when he slid home after a goalmouth scramble.

10 SEP – LEAGUE CUP ROUND 1 – Holders travel to Mosborough, Wickersley face Loca threat – The draw for Round 1 of the League Cup was made at Chesterfield FC by Media manager Nick Johnson (right) and Spireites legend Sean O'Neill (left) and League Cup holders Chapeltown RBL will begin their defence of the trophy at Division 1 Mosborough Reds. Another Division 1 team, Loca FC, travel to former holders Wickersley CC for what could be the tie of the round. Another top game where a Premier side entertains a Division 1 side is AFC Wisewood's visit to Nailmakers.

Other CBC Premier sides under threat by Division 1 teams are Wadsley Bridge Sixers, who visit to AFC Centre Spot, and Woodman Intake, who visit to Brunsmeer. Southey Social will be expected to progress at home to Norton Oaks. One Division 1 team is certain to get through as Thorncliffe Villa play host to Cotts FC. All ties to be played on Sunday 5 October, kick-off at 11am. The other 9 teams receive byes and most of them will play league games on that date.

7 SEP – CBC PREMIER – Boynton chop down Woodman – Nathan Davies and Tyrell Brooks both scored twice as Boynton chopped down Woodman Intake 5-0 Ethan Wilkinson netted Boynton’s other while John Lowe took the Man of the Match award.

Connor Platts also hit two as Stannington Village, who despite losing a three goal lead at one stage, won 5-3 to ensure a difficult start for Southey Social. Stannington took the lead early when a good cross from Harley Scholey found Platts at the back post and he stabbed home at the second attempt. It was 2-0 straight after when the ball fell to Travis Hodgson who finished well in the far corner.

It was soon 3-0 when Luca DeFalco took the ball off the defender and cut inside and finished in the bottom corner, but Southey quickly pulled one back when Carlton Carty raced clear and rounded the keeper before slotting home from a tight angle. Southey then started to control the game and got another back when Ryan Whitney fired home from inside the box.

After the break Southey came out and continued on the front foot and equalised when Elliot Fox beat his man and fired home from 6yd. Stannington composed themselves and regained the lead after 70 mins when Platts turned the defender and finished well from 20 yards, it was 5-3 in the last few minutes when Joel Purkiss hit a 25 yard free kick into the far corner.

It took a very late James Hardeman (pictured right) goal to give Wickersley CC a 2-1 win at Nailmakers. A fast end to end start saw Wickersley then settle into the game and start to dominate possession and when Kallum Nix’s long diagonal ball found Matt Claxton he created the chance that Adam Daughtrey finished after a good first touch. The second half Wickersley carry on dominating the football and hit the post as well as the Nailmakers’ keeper making some good saves.

Nailmakers then created some chances from long throws and a long free kick then found a free man at the back post that was headed back across and finished by Nick Owen to equalise. Wickersley still kept dominating the ball and again created chances with Nailmakers penned into their own half, but it looked like they would share the points until a great bit of play saw James Hardemen run off Adam Daughtrey’s pass and Hardemen finished through the keepers legs with only a minute left to play.

Wadsley Bridge Sixers and Eckington MW shared the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw. Sixers took the lead in the 35th minute with a George Rudd strike when a ball through the middle set the striker free to slot home and it stayed like that until half time

Eckington levelled in the 58th minute when Aiden Horspool closed the keeper down, nicked the ball and fired home into an empty goal. Sixers regained the lead in the 75th minute with a carbon copy of their first with Rudd again taking advantage of a ball down the middle to fire home 2-1. Eckington equalised in the 82nd minute. A good ball into the box was met by Horspool to head home.

7 SEP - DIVISION 1 – Wisewood rock the Baby, Cotts hit by Crookes brothers – The early leaders of Division 1 are Wisewood after their surprise 3-2 win at Baby Shark. Matt Civil, Will Osgathorpe and Oliver Scott gave Wisewood a 3-0 lead at half time, but Baby Shark put the pressure on in the second half and threw everything at their visitors. Shark managed to get two back with two Fabian Johnson penalties, but Wisewood held on to go top.

Crookes were the days’ top scorers as the three McQuillin brothers, Lewis (left), Mason and Oli (right), all got on the score sheet - the first time 3 brothers had scored in the same game in the league – as they beat Cotts 7-3. Crookes took the lead in the first 2 minutes through a Jacob Mattock finish, but Cotts responded shortly after with a Jacob Lally strike. Jim Pollard scored from a corner to put Crookes back in front before Lewis McQuillin rounded keeper to make it 3-1 and Pollard then netted his second to make it 4-1 at the break.

The second half saw Tye Gunter hit a second for Cotts, but Mason McQuillin soon restored Crookes’ three goal lead. A Cam Ronksley volley then made it 6-2 before Oli McQuillin made it seven from the penalty spot. Cotts netted the game’s final goal when they were awarded a penalty, put away by Chris Salt.

Level at the top is Loca after they won their local derby at Hackenthorpe 2-1. Loca flew out of the traps in the first 20 minutes putting Hackenthorpe under pressure and that pressure forced two defensive errors that Logan Liggins  took advantage of to continue his great start to the season. Despite the slow start, Hackenthorpe responded with their best spell of football, culminating in a well-worked goal from Travis Vintin to get them back into the contest.

The second half was a tight battle, with both sides creating chances but unable to find the breakthrough. However, Hackenthorpe were reduced to ten men with 20 minutes remaining, making it easier for Loca to manage the final stages and see out the win. Special mentions go to Hackenthorpe’s Nathan Hunt and Tyler Crossland, who both delivered standout performances and to Cammy Anderson and Cam Evans for Loca.

Brunsmeer were the days’ biggest winners, 6-1, as they gave newcomers Kelham Island a difficult start in the league. Although Kelham had made a game of it in the first half and only trailed 1-0 at half time, Brunsmeer proved too strong for them after the break and goals came from Charlie Clark 2, Lee Clark, Charlie Wheatley, Gaz Murdoch and Billy Gilliott. Josh O’Reilly netted Kelham Island’s consolation goal.

Mosborough Reds pulled off a surprise 1-0 win at Centre Spot. The only chance of the first half fell to Centre Spot, but the Reds keeper made the save and he had to do the same again early in the second half. Reds defence stayed firm and when they were awarded a corner with just five minutes remaining it led to a scramble in the Centre Spot goalmouth which was turned home by Ryan Greaves for Reds winner.

Thorncliffe Villa celebrated their first game at their new ground with a 2-1 win over Norton Oaks. Despite a good start and early pressure from the Villa, it was Norton who took the lead when a great delivery into the box from Danny Lavender was headed over the keeper, Van-Persie esque by Will Carlisle. Villa soon responded though and goals from Josh Hall and Dylan Farmer gave them a 2-1 lead at the break. The second half was an even affair with both teams only creating half chances, but a Man of the Match performance by Jayden Hall ensured the points went to Villa.