2
Mar 2008 - CBC Premier Ball
& West End stay on course, Laycock's get a point
After throwing away a three goal lead, a Joe Barker (pictured left) treble helped Blue Ball recover to win 6-3 at Hemsworth Villa and Woodhouse West End stayed right behind them as Damien Blakemore's late goal gave them victory at Handsworth WMC, while Laycock Sports finally gained some reward as the grabbed a point in an eight goal thriller at Redmires. Craig Senior added two more to his tally as Ecclesfield Travellers shared six goals at Niagara.
A real topsy-turvy game saw Blue Ball maintain their lead at the top of the CBC Premier with victory over third place Hemsworth Villa, but Woodhouse West End stay right on their heels after their single goal victory at Handsworth
WMC.
Ball travelled to Villa knowing it would be one of their hardest games of the season and for the first forty minutes their was little to choose between them, but in the last five minutes of the half Adam
Podmore, Ian Stacey and Joe Barker all found the net to give Ball an unlikely three goal lead at the break.
The second half saw Villa start to impose themselves and after Mark Hopkinson had struck the bar, Nick Owen fired into the bottom right hand corner to reduce the arrears. Owen then added a second with an expertly taken free kick and their comeback was completed when David Tollerfield headed home.
It looked as if Villa would go on to win the game at this stage, but a quickly taken free kick saw Barker break away to restore Ball's lead and with Villa pushing everyone forward in search of an equaliser, Ball twice hit them on the break again as Barker completed his hat-trick and Podmore hit his second.
Although Woodhouse West End had hit eight when they last met Handsworth WMC this time it always looked as if it would be a very tight affair and so it proved. West End had two penalty appeals turned down while Handsworth's Kieran Gallagher and man-of-the-match David Cawrey were frequently causing problems for the West End defence.
Gallagher and Jamie King both went close for Handsworth and it needed a terrific save to stop Matt Sykes from giving them the lead, but West End were also having their moments in front of goal and eventually their man-of-the-match damien Blakemore volleyed the winner with about five minutes remaining.
Laycock Sports have struggled and started the day with just one point, but after a terrific comeback they shared eight goals with Redmires to double their points tally for the season. Redmires started brightly and midway through the first half Sean downing gave them the lead and a few minutes later James O'Connell doubled it.
Laycock's came out for the second half showing more purpose and were quickly rewarded when Scott Wesney found the net, yet their joy was short lived as Mick Hickson scored his second of the season - and both against Laycock's.
Back came Laycock's when Chris Chapman hit a beauty from thirty yards, yet it looked all over for them when Downing netted his second of the game to restore Redmires two goal lead with little more than ten minutes remaining. Laycock's had other ideas though and Chris Gill scored their third and when Darryl White upended the Laycock's winger in the box, the experienced Simon Bartles stepped up to grab that point for the visitors.
There was also a goal feast at Niagara where they shared six with Ecclesfield Travellers. The League's leading scorer Craig Senior added two more to his tally to put Travellers in charge, but just before the break Simon Staniforth pulled one back for the home side.
After the break, Staniforth netted a second to level before Craig Lonsdale put Niagara in front, but when Dan Touhey's mazy run took him past the keeper he chipped a cross for Glen Bell to head home to make it just one defeat in Travellers last eight games.
Division One Will done well to keep Abacrombie top, but Mosborough slip up
Sam Bartram and Will Dunwell goals gave Millhouses Abacrombie the points at Handsworth Old Boys, but two Adrian Von Wurbach strikes saw Devonshire win at Mosborough Royal Oak. Pitsmorr Royal Oak went back to second after two Leon Stocks goals helped them to victory at Park & Arbour LFS.
After defeat the previous weekend, Millhouses Abacrombie knew they would lose top spot in Division One if they slipped up at Handsworth Old Boys and it didn't look good when their hosts started the brighter of the two sides. Millhouses weathered the storm though and when Danny Turner's pass found Sam Bartram he rounded the keeper before putting them ahead.
Millhouses then had much more of the game and a second came when Will Dunwell was first to react after a shot had comeback off a post, but the home side did their best to get back into it and it needed a fingertip save by Mark Davies to keep his clean sheet in tact.
Pitsmoor Royal Oak celebrated their Monthly Merit Award with a victory at Park & Arbour LFS that lifted Oak back into second place. Leon Stocks popped up at the back post to give Oak the lead, but just a minute from the break Simon Windle's header went in off the bar to bring Park level.
Oak started the second half under pressure, but they turned the game their way when Stocks turned in the area to hit a shot low into the keeper's right hand corner. Both sides had chances after that but it was Oak that finally settled the game when Tommy Fowler chested the ball down before firing home.
Devonshire continued their climb up the table by taking all three points at promotion rivals Mosborough Royal Oak. Devonshire's ace marksman
Adrian Von Wurzbach (pictured right) gave them the lead after just ten minutes when his wind assisted shot found the net and they continued to have the majority of the play, but five minutes before the break Ricky Davidson set up Kevin Ford to score Oak's equaliser.
Just when Mosborough thought they would go into the break level, Von Wurzbach struck again to restore Devonshire's lead and despite Mosborough creating plenty of chances in the second half, they couldn't take any of them and Devonshire held on.
Division Two Brimington goal feast, but Kilham double keeps Bush second
Chris Kealey netted four as FC Brimington went goal crazy at home to Fairbank-Rhodes, but a Kyle Kilham double gave Hollin Bush victory at Bulls Head to keep them second. Southey Social stay in contention with victory at Freemasons Arms, while Tom Higginbottom was another to hit four in Junior Blades victory at Brinsworth Whitehill.
With Division Two leaders Civil Service's game at Oughtibridge Village postponed it gave the chasing pack the chance to close the gap and all their main title rivals grabbed the opportunity with both hands. Kyle Kilham was both hero and villain for second place Hollin Bush as his goals either side of the interval gave Bush victory at Bulls Head, but he later left his team with ten men after seeing red. Bush's victory margin would still have been more though had it not been for Bull keeper Gary
Gascoine.
Third place FC Brimington went on a real goal spree as they hammered Fairbank-Rhodes 12-1 with Chris Kealey (pictured left) hitting four of them and Sam Taylor three.
Eight minutes into the game Chris Kealey played Michael Gartlan in drilled the ball into the near post from a tight angle. Soon afterwards Sam Taylor hit the bar, then moments later a cross from the right by Brooke found Kealey at the far post to double their lead. Leversidge twice went through only to hit tame shots at the keeper, but a run by Gartlan into the box was stopped by a foul and Kealey made it three.
Fairbank did their best to stem the flow and a quick break saw Mark Drayton head home to reduce the arrears, but Brimington's three goal lead was quickly restored by another Kealey penalty after Elliott Christie had been brought down in the box.
Just
a minute into the second half a passing move between Christie, Gartlan and
Kealey ended with Kealey's fourth of the game and a few minutes later Matt
Collier crossed for Sam
Christie
then added his second from a Gartlan cross before Taylor unleashed a
bullet into the top right corner for his hat-trick. A great crossfield
ball by Leversidge set Lawrence Wragg for his first of the season before
Gartlan completed the scoring at the second attempt after his first shot
had been saved.
Southey Social kept their bid going, but only just after coming away from bottom club Freemasons Arms with a 2-1 victory. Matthew Meaney and Micky Bond grabbed Southey's goals, but equally important was Marcus Pass's man of the match performance. Freemasons goal came from Cameron Tarsis's glancing header when he met Lee Foreman's cross and they will take plenty of heart from their continued improvement.
Junior Blades could yet cause some of the high flyers problems if their 7-2 victory at Brinsworth Whitehill is anything to go by. Their passing and pace proved too much for the home side and in particular they couldn't stop four goal Tom Higginbottom. Tom Crick also grabbed two and Daniel Law their other, while Brinsworth's late consolations came from Sean Marsden and Jamie Radford.
5
Mar 2008 - Derek Dooley
The League was very saddened to hear that Derek Dooley had passed away today. Derek was not just unique in capturing the hearts of both United and Wednesday supporters alike, he was also a great champion of grassroots football in Sheffield.
Derek was instrumental in the formation of both leagues and teams on both Saturdays and Sundays. He was always a great friend to our league and was the first person to present the League's now famous Monthly Merit Award to Yorkshireman in 1987 and he is pictured left presenting another to Hemsworth Villa in 2003.
If ever someone deserved the word 'legend' it is Derek Dooley and it is hard to imagine football in Sheffield without him. Our hearts and sympathy go out to his wife Sylvia and to all his family and friends.
9
Mar 2008 - Clubs
pay tribute to Derek Dooley
All the League clubs paid tribute to Derek Dooley today by holding a minutes silence before the games. Pictured is Pen Nook & Devonshire
9 Mar 2008 - CBC Premier Penalty treble lifts West End back to top as Ball held
After twice being behind to Hemsworth Villa, Woodhouse West came back to win it with three Rob Cowlishaw penalties and with Blue Ball being held to a 2-2 draw at Stannington Village it saw West End go back to the top by goal difference. At the other end, Laycock Sports stunned Stocksbridge Park Steels by gaining their first win of the season 6-1, but Woodhouse Angel lost 4-2 at home to Redmires
Laycock
Sports day started badly when they fell behind as Chris Kelly netted after Adam Todd had struck a post, but five minutes before the break,
Lloyd McPherson (pictured right), playing his first game of the season, netted Laycock's equaliser and right on half time John Kilcoyne put them ahead.
With Andy Register driving his side forward, any thoughts that it might not be Laycock's day were soon dispelled when Kilcoyne's corner just after the break flew straight into the net and Simon Turner then hit a thirty yarder to extend their lead still further, but it still needed a couple of Grant Parkin saves to keep their lead in tact. The result was put beyond doubt when leading scorer Sam Read rounded the keeper before slotting home their fifth and Chris Gill's last minute sixth put the icing on cake.
Woodhouse West End found themselves behind when a defensive error allowed Hemsworth Villa's Danny Braybrook to celebrate his first start after injury with a thirty five yard strike and even after David Haley levelled for West End, they were soon behind again when Nick Owen hit home a free kick. Spencer Taylor again brought West End level and just before half time Rob Cowlishaw struck home their first penalty after handball in the area.
The second half saw Cowlishaw stroke home a second penalty after a mistimed tackle and the victory that took them back to the top was made safe when Cowlishaw completed his hat-trick of penalties after a trip in the area.
Blue Ball's slip from the top came after they could only draw at Stannington Village. Ball missed the best chance of the first half when they had a penalty saved and the second half wasn't too old when David Hague's free kick and Dan Green's strike put Stannington two up. Ben Cook started the comeback with his first of the season and Luke
Mitchell-Staniland lobbed the keeper to level. Ball had chances to win it after that, but couldn't take them and had to settle for a point.
Woodhouse Angel's top flight position is looking even more perilous after they slipped to a 4-2 home defeat by Redmires. It started well for Angel when Gareth Simons put them ahead, but Redmires, despite losing Des Pike through injury, hit back to level with Andy
Birks' deflected shot. It got worse for Angel when a Redmires took the lead with an own goal and the game was put beyond them with Birks second and one from Danny Lindley. Chris Towey did pull one back for Angel from the penalty spot, but it came too late to mount a
fightback.
Division
One Devonshire get
Birched, but Pitsmoor and Millhouses stay above
Four Scott Birch goals (including his hat-trick goal pictured left) saw Pen Nook defeat promotion rivals Devonshire, but Millhouses Abacrombie stayed top with a 3-1 at Park & Arbour LFS and a Gavin Davis treble helped Pitsmoor Royal Oak to a 5-1 victory over Loxley to stay second. Mosborough Royal Oak's dip in form continued with a 2-0 defeat at a Sheldon Athletic that has now won its last two.
A tight first half between Millhouse Abacrombie and Park & Arbour LFS was brought to life when Adam Sturch netted the rebound after his initial shot had been saved and early in the second half, Sturch turned provider when his left foot cross found Rob Gardiner at the back post for number two. Park weren't out of it though and after a long throw, Simon Windle scored for the second successive game when his effort went in off a post, but William Dolman made it safe for Abacrombie with a late strike.
With normal keeper out injured, Paul Hind had to start in goal for Pitsmoor Royal Oak, but they made light of the disruption to brush aside Loxley 5-1. Leon Stocks set Gavin Davis up to give Pitsmoor a first half lead and early in the second half Davis doubled their lead with his second. Scott Szpajer grabbed their third before Davis completed his hat-trick and Dean Foreman hit a fifth in off a post, while Loxley's only consolation came from Tom McIllhagga after good work by Jason Jones.
Devonshire found themselves Birched as Pen Nook kept their promotion change going as Scott Birch took himself to the top of the league's leading scorer charts with all his side's four goals. Craig Barraclough's through ball enabled Birch to beat two defenders and bend the ball home and a few minutes later Adam Myers pass set Birch up for his second.
Devonshire's hopes took a further knock when their keeper had to go off injured and it soon got worse when Barraclough was again the provider for Birch to complete his hat-trick. Myers then laid on a chance that Birch couldn't miss for his fourth before Ross
Melas netted Devonshire's only consolation.
Action from the game is shown below.
Mosborough Royal Oak's promotion bid suffered a second successive defeat as Sheldon Athletic boosted their survival hopes with their second win in as many games. Oak started well and almost took the lead when Ricky Davidson hit the bar and both Craig Woolley and Joe France missed good chances to break the deadlock, but Sheldon, boosted by the return of several players from long term injury absences began to get in the game. Soon after the break Leon Morris put Sheldon ahead and with just ten minutes remaining leading scorer Steve Cousin made the points safe.
The Park's chances of survival don't look so good though after they twice lost the lead before having to settle for a 3-3 draw with Sportsman Stannington. Greg Ramsden's header and Lee Walker's shot gave The Park a two goal lead, but Sportsman hit back with two Mark Gregory goals to go in level at the break. Scott Micklethwaite restored The Park's lead, but again they couldn't hold on to it as Joe Lilleyman grabbed another equaliser for Sportsman, although it needed a vital save by their keeper to hold onto their
point.
Division Two Top three all stay on course, but Southey held by Colley
Civil Service, Hollin Bush and FC Brimington all won to stay in the top three, but Southey Social needed a last gasp Chris Smallwood goal to earn just a point against Colley Club, while Junior Blades win at home against Freemasons Arms.
Division Two leaders Civil Service were given a jolt when Joe Knight's seventeenth goal of the season put Fairbank-Rhodes ahead, but Service were level at half time thanks to Adam Firth's free kick. After the break Service took the lead when another Firth shot was spilled into the net by the keeper and Lee Wild beat the offside trap to double their advantage.
Fairbank's man of the match Andy Baxter reduced the arrears, but Service regained their two goal lead when it was Danny Fowler's turn to beat the offside trap and their victory was confirmed when Wild slammed home his second following a scramble in front of goal.
Although their visitors pushed them hard, Hollin Bush kept pace with Service with a 3-1 home win over Anston Athletic. Kyle Kilham netted the opener for Bush, but they went into the break level after Matthew Huddle intercepted the ball in midfield and drove forward before crossing for Ryan Taff to score with a looping header. Bush regained the lead after the break when Dean Walker celebrated his first came back from a serious injury by heading home and although both sides had chances after that it was Kilham that made it safe for Bush with his second of the game.
FC Brimington stayed in third after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Oughtibridge Village. A ball over the top caught Brimington's defenders napping and Chris Smallwood pounced to
deservedly fire Oughtibridge ahead after just five minutes, but after
missing a hatfull of chances, Brooke's forty yard crossfield ball found Michael Gartlan
and he chested the ball down before bringing Brimington level for half
time. Despite Brimington continuing to have the lion's share of the game, they were still wasting chances and Oughtibridge looked dangerous on the break, but Brimington's winner finally came when Gartlan netted his second.
Southey Social's hopes took a blow when they were held at home by Colley Club and it needed a goal in the sixth minute of added time to give them even a point. Richie Whitworth's free kick allowed Ridah Miladi to head the opener for Colley in the last action of the first half and, despite Southey hitting both post and bar in a second half they dominated, it looked like it would be enough until Marcus Pass grabbed Southey's last gasp equaliser.
Junior Blades stayed just behind the leading pack as goals from Tom Crick and Andrew Brookfield together with an own goal gave them victory over bottom club Freemasons Arms despite their goal from Martin Cain.
16
Mar 2008 - CBC Premier Ball
back on top, but they let points fall at Niagara
On a day when referees received regular praise from our clubs, Blue Ball twice came from behind at Niagara to get the point that sent them back to the top of the CBC Premier table, but it is their title rivals Woodhouse West End that will be much happier with that result as they are just that one point behind with two games in hand after their game was postponed.
Niagara had shown enough to suggest they would not be a pushover for the leaders and a minute from the break they took the lead when
Ben Dronfield (pictured right) headed his sixth of the season. Ball soon levelled through Adam
Podmore, but they found themselves behind again when Simon Staniforth found the net. Podmore grabbed his second to level again and Ball had two disallowed for offside, but Niagara almost won it when Staniforth hit a post.
Handsworth WMC look a good bet to finish third after their 4-1 home win over Stannington Village, but for over an hour the game looked as if it could go either way. Kieran Gallagher's shot took a wicked deflection of Shane Hinshelwood to give Handsworth a lead against the run of play and Stannington continued to have the lion's share of the play as they went after an equaliser.
The crucial moment came when Robert Pratt placed a terrific free kick into the top corner for Handsworth's second and as the Stannington heads dropped, Handsworth went on the rampage. Gallagher turned home his second from an acute angle and veteran sub Nick Garner grabbed a fourth before Sean Flynn netted Stannington's consolation.
Redmires eased any thoughts that they could get sucked into the relegation struggle with a narrow victory over a Woodhouse Angel side that is beginning to look doomed for the drop. It looked as if it might be Angels day when a good move saw Gareth Simons produce a well taken finish to give Angel a deserved early lead, but their day started to go wrong midway through the first half when Nick Hickson met Dale White's free kick to head Redmires level.
After that Redmires began to dominate and they should have taken the lead when Andy Birks missed a sitter and almost did when Andy Jones hit a post, but the almost inevitable goal came when Wayne Beggs run and cross found James O'Connell and although his shot was initially saved by the Angel keeper, Danny Lindley was on hand to net the winner from close range. Not for the first time this season, referee
Matt Walsh (pictured left) drew praise from both clubs for his handling of the game.
Division One Pitsmoor win the Oak's to go top as Sheldon hold Millhouses
There was also a change at the top of Division One with Pitsmoor Royal Oak taking over after their win at Mosborough Royal Oak and Millhouses Abacrombie's draw at rejuvenated Sheldon Athletic.
With less than twenty minutes remaining the game was still goalless, but two goals in as many minutes put Pitsmoor in charge of the Oaks. Scott Szpajer headed home the first and this was quickly followed by Gavin Davis netting his nineteenth of the season after being set up by Luke
Parwana. Craig Woolley and Ricky Davidson both went close for Mosborough before Simon Black did pull one back for them, but despite a late onslaught from their hosts, Pitsmoor held firm to go top.
After a dismal run of results Sheldon Athletic went into their game with Millhouses Abacrombie after two consecutive victories and the confidence those wins has given them quickly showed and they should have taken the lead when they were awarded a penalty, but Abacrombie keeper
Mark Davies (pictured right) showed how valuable he is to his team by producing his fifth penalty save of the season to deny them. Both sides had chances to win it after that and Cameron Swift in the Sheldon goal produced a string of saves to earn his side a deserved point.
Devonshire moved within striking distance of the top three when their smash and grab tactics gave them a 2-1 win at Sportsman Stannington. Devonshire took the lead midway through the first half when Chris Garlick hammered home a free kick from twenty five yards, but Sportsman levelled when leading scorer produced one equally as good.
After the break Sportsman had several one-on-ones, but they couldn't take any of them and when Devonshire hit them with a quick break Ross Melas cut in from the left before playing a neat one-two and hitting the winner in off a post.
If Handsworth Old Boy's home form they would have been challenging for the title, but their promotion ambitions took a further knock when they slid to a fourth home defeat of the season to Loxley. Mick Smith finished off good work by Tom McIllhagga for the game's only goal, but Simon Mirfin had a header saved, McIllhagga also had one disallowed and the Handsworth keeper made several great saves near the end to stop a heavier defeat.
The Park fought out a 1-1 draw at Trickshots, but the point apiece will do little for either side's chances of survival. The Park took the lead midway through the first half when Lee Walker hit his second in as many games and they should have taken a stranglehold on the game when they were awarded a penalty, but Scott Micklethwaite saw his spot kick saved.
It looked as if The Park would hang on to only a second win of the season, but Trickshots kept plugging away and with just five minutes remaining sub Gary Cooper grabbed the equaliser, although The Park thought they had won it again when they had a late effort disallowed.
Division
Two Sweet revenge
for Service, but Bush get whacked 
It was a very good day for Division Two leaders
Civil Service (pictured left) after their 3-2 win at title rivals FC Brimington and the other title contender Hollin Bush's shock comprehensive defeat at next to bottom Brinsworth Whitehill.
Civil Service lost their unbeaten home record to FC Brimington a couple of weeks ago and they would have lost top spot to them if their hosts had completed a quick double over them, but the leaders got their tactics spot on to gain revenge and come away with the victory that now makes them strong favourites for the title.
The early exchanges were dominated by Brimington, but a long ball from the Civil Service defence found Ben Brown in the box and he spun and shot to give Service the lead.
Service now buoyed by this started to get on top and after they forced a corner a terrific delivery was met by Ben Sanderson to head their second with less than fifteen minutes on the clock.
Service then set their stall out to pack the midfield and stop Brimington's run and pass game, but bit by bit the home side started to get some momentum yet it took a touch of luck to get them back into the game. Phil Hirons took a
free kick some forty yards out and although all the Brimington attackers missed the ball, they distracted the Service keeper
sufficiently for the ball to go straight in. Brimington then pushed harder for an
equaliser and it came when Chris Kealey's run into the box was not picked up and he slotted the ball home on the stroke of half time.
Instead of letting it affect them, Service rolled up their sleeves and another terrific corner again found the run of Sanderson for him to restore their lead. Brimington pressed hard after that, but Service's four-one, four-one formation stopped the home side
getting any real looks at goal until the final few minutes when Michael Gartlan's shot looked to be on it's way in until it struck a defenders arm, but the referee judged that it was unintentional and Service hung on to the points.
Hollin Bush were expected to get the win needed to keep them on the leaders heels at a Brinsworth Whitehill second bottom, but they found their hosts in the best form of the season. After a goalless first half, Bush were rocked back by two Jamie Radford strikes and one from
Aaron Turner (pictured right) and they never looked like troubling their hosts.
Another side to produce their best form for a while was Oughtibridge Village as they gained revenge for their earlier defeat by visitors Fairbank-Rhodes. A mistake by the keeper gave Chris Smallwood the chance to score his twelfth goal of the season and a defensive error allowed Mick Smith to double Oughtibridge's lead before the break.
Fairbank, with Andy Baxter producing a real skipper's performance, did better after the break, but they couldn't break through the organised home side defence.
Alan Streets (pictured left) was another referee to be praised by both sides for his performance and for
making the late switch to the game after his original game had been postponed.
Bulls Head improved their chances of getting out of the bottom three with a 3-1 home win over Freemasons Arms, a result that leaves the visitors certain to finish at the foot of the table. It had been fairly even until right on the stroke of half time when
Nick Ash (pictured right) curled home a free kick to give Bull the lead, but almost immediately after the break Freemasons were level when Josh Tobin netted his first of the season.
Both sides went close after that, but it was Bull that regained the lead through Andy Palmer and Jordan Palmer rounded his man-of-the-match performance with the third. A special mention should go to referee Mike Stylianou who donated his fee to
Sport Relief.
22 Mar 2008 - Villa get the Gleadless Valley Community spirit
In recognition of the part Hemsworth Villa have played in the Gleadless Valley community for over twenty five years, they have again received financial support from the Gleadless Valley Community Forum. Villa secretary Mick Moat is very proud of the efforts both he and his team make to provide recreation in the area, so it was fitting that Mick received the cheque from the Forum's core workers John Ward and Wendy Furniss along with the Forum's manager Steve Rundell.
18
Mar 2008 - Norwich
City boss Glenn Roeder hands over the latest Angel
IT Solutions Peak Performer Awards to Ecclesfield 
Travellers Craig Senior and the latest
CBC Computer Systems Merit
Award to Pen Nook -
Craig Senior took the Angel
IT Solutions Peak Performer Award after going
to the top of the goalscoring charts, with a total that was twice as many
as any other player in the CBC Premier. Division One Pen Nook took their
CBC Computer Systems Merit Award after a
terrific run of results taking them from the bottom three to the top three.
23
Mar 2008 - CBC Premier Angel
start to shine, while Handsworth ride high
A Kirk Briddon (pictured right) double helped Woodhouse Angel to their first home win of the season and give them some hope that they can avoid the drop, but they beat a Laycock Sports side that is now certain to finish in the bottom two. Handsworth WMC now look certain for their highest ever finish about thumping Niagara 6-1.
Woodhouse Angel finally managed their first home win of the season to boost their hopes of avoiding the drop from the CBC Premier, but their 6-3 victory over Laycock Sports confirms a bottom two finish is certain for their visitors.
Angel went into the game knowing that anything less than three points would put their top flight place in real jeopardy and it started well for them when Kirk Briddon gave them an early lead, but Laycock's were fighting for their lives and they equalised when John Kilcoyne's cross was put away by leading scorer Sam Read and soon after a carbon copy saw Read give Laycock's the lead.
Angel responded with Matt Hardy hitting his first of the season to draw level, before another first of the season from Richard Newey's head gave them the lead, but they were pegged back again when Scott Wesney found the net.
The second half started at the same furious pace and it was Angel that again got their noses in front when Briddon fastened onto Kirk Smith's cross to score. This time they were in no mood to let it go and Angel extended their lead through
Chris Towey before David Price netted their sixth. Both sides were grateful for the part referee Gary McFarlane played in making it an exciting game.
Handsworth WMC look set for their highest ever finish after their 6-1 victory over a weakened Niagara side lifted them up to third. Kieran Gallagher played Matt Hodgett in for the opener and Gallagher quickly got his name on the scoresheet to double their lead.
Matt Sykes produced a cool finish that made it a surprise that it was his first of the season, before Andy Stevens' pinpoint pass set Hodgett up for his second of the game. Gallagher then crossed for Robert Pratt to score with a rare diving header, before sub David Cawrey made it six, leaving just enough time for Brendan Burns to score Niagara's consolation after the Handsworth keeper was penalised for picking up Eddie Holmes's back pass.
Division
One It Luke's good
for Pitsmoor, but Sheldon get sinking feeling
Two Luke Parwana goals gave leaders a 2-1 victory at The Park to open up a four point gap, but Sheldon's survival hopes to a blow when they let a lead slip to lose at home to Loxley.
Pitsmoor Royal Oak look as good as promoted after they came away from The Park with a narrow 2-1 victory. Even though this was top versus bottom, their was nothing between the sides until just a minutes before the interval Luke Parwana's free kick found the bottom corner to put Pitsmoor ahead.
The second half saw both sides miss chances, but with just five minutes remaining it looked as if The Park would take a share of the spoils when Matthew Hill's free kick found Lee Walker and he netted his third in as many games to level. Pitsmoor aren't the leaders for nothing though and with two minutes remaining Parwana this time found the top corner to win it for them.
The Park's chances of avoiding the drop now look slim and second bottom Sheldon Athletic missed the chance to put further pressure on the clubs above them when they slipped to a 2-1 home defeat by Loxley. It started well for Sheldon as Liam Morris gave them a half time lead, but Loxley upped the pressure after the break and Simon Mirfin celebrated his first game as skipper by heading them level.
Loxley keeper Garth Turner then made a terrific save to stop his side falling behind again, but after Loxley switched full back Tom Shelton further forward they began to get on top and Shelton marked his man-of-the-match performance with the winner before he then switched back to full back to help preserve the lead as Sheldon tried to get back into the game.
Division
Two Tom's a real
Crick in the neck to the leaders
A Tom Crick goal proved decisive as Junior Blades put Civil Service's promotion celebrations on hold by beating them 4-3 and second place Hollin Bush also let points and a two goal lead slip when Colley Club hit back to draw 2-2. Southey Social climbed back into third with a 2-0 win at Bulls Head, while Brinsworth Whitehill grabbed a second successive win by beating Freemasons.
Division Two leaders
Civil Service went into their game with visitors Junior Blades knowing that victory would put them on the brink of promotion and it started well for the home side when veteran striker Martyn Kittridge put them ahead, but it started to go wrong when the Blades leading scorer Tom Higginbottom netted with the home side claiming the ball had gone out before it was crossed.
Worse was to come for the leaders as Daniel Law hit a real screamer to put the Blades ahead before the break and soon after the break, Andrew Brookfield netted his
sixth of the season to double their advantage. Service responded well and Danny Fowler capitalised on an error by the Blades keeper to pull one back from close range, but just when an equaliser looked certain to come, the Blades caught the Service defence napping and Tom Crick made it 4-2.
A clumsy challenge in the area allowed Fowler to net his second of the game and set up a grandstand finish, but the Blades
defence weathered the storm to come away with the points and throw the title race wide open again.
It could have been worse for Service though as second place Hollin Bush let a two goal lead slip to also drop vital points in another game that saw praise for referee Nick
Mason (pictured right). Lee Rogers took advantage of some slack defending to put Bush ahead and after David Martin had been brought down by the Colley keeper, Kyle Kilham stepped up to double their lead from the penalty spot.
It was a different story after the break though as Colley came out all guns blazing and Neil Whitworth pulled one back when he found a bullet header from Richard Whitworth's corner and it was a repeat performance that saw Whitworth equalise with
another bullet header near the end.
Yet another game where referee Brent Marsh (pictured left) received praise saw Southey Social climb back into the automatic promotion places with a 2-0 victory at Bulls Head. The home side had the early pressure, but it was Southey that took the lead when Chris Roberts finished off a ten man move. Bulls keeper Gary Gascoine then made four tremendous saves to keep his side in the game and when he was beaten again it took a terrific finish by leading scorer Matt
Meaney.
The home side pressed hard to get back into the game and Southey's cause wasn't helped when they lost keeper Anthony Danks to an ankle injury, but he needn't have worried too much as his brother Adam took over and made a great save to keep his side's clean sheet.
In the battle of the bottom two it was Brinsworth Whitehill that completed their home programme with their second consecutive win, 3-0 over Freemasons Arms. Warren Smith gave them a half time lead and soon after the break Bazil Nyomi's solo run from the halfway line double Brinsworth's lead, before Lewis Sutherland's cross was gave Sean Marsden the chance to complete the
scoring.
23 Mar 2008 - Great gesture by Handsworth WMC
Handsworth WMC players and officials raised £150 for Blue Ball's Paul Marrison after he accidentally broke his leg during their recent game - a terrific gesture by the club.
27 Mar 2008 - Brimington back up to second
After a game played under floodlight at Woodburn Road, FC Brimington climbed back into the automatic promotion places with a 5-0 victory at Fairbank-Rhodes with doubles from Gartlan and Christie and one from
Crossland, and they are now just three points behind leaders Civil Service. Both sides should be congratulated for making the effort to get the game played.
Fairbank enjoyed the best of the early exchanges and only good recovery work by Simpson, Brooke and Newton prevented a goal. Another mistake at the back needed Andrew Crossland to make a saving tackle, but as Brimington started to get into the game both Bath and Christie went close.
The breakthrough came when Collier found Gartlan who crossed for Christie to meet it with a left foot volley past the keeper and Christie soon doubled the lead when he picked up the pieces after the keeper could only parry Fadiga's shot. Fadiga continued to terrorise the Fairbank defence but they held out to the break.
The third came soon after though when Collier's pass allowed Gartlan to accelerate past a Rhodes defender and beat the keeper. Fairbank didn't let their heads drop and still caused the odd problem to Brimington's defence, but a fourth goal when Collier's corner was met by the nearpost run of
Crossland. The final goal came when Gartlan dispossessed a defender and fired home.
30 Mar 2008 - League Cup - West End and Handsworth WMC set for Bramall Lane
The League Cup semi finals saw both Oaks felled as Handsworth WMC reached their first Bramall Lane final with victory over Mosborough Royal Oak in a first ever semi final penalty shoot-out and they will meet Woodhouse West End after they stayed on course for a League and Cup double with victory over Pitsmoor Royal Oak.
Division One Mosborough didn't look out of place against their high flying CBC Premier opponents and took a deserved lead when Richard Mills volleyed home and had it not been for a number of important saves by Handsworth's former Derby County keeper Liam Richardson, Oak would probably have had the game won by half time. The sides went in level at half time though after a rare Handsworth attack saw a shot from Kieran Gallagher take a wicked deflection off Brent Healey and loop over the keeper into the net.
Although Handsworth came into the game more after the break, Mosborough continued to have the better of things and both Ricky Davidson and Craig Woolley went close to re-establishing their lead, but Andy Sykes at the heart of the Handsworth defence was putting in a man-of-the-match performance to keep them at bay and the game went into extra time.
It looked as if Mosborough would make up for the heartbreak of defeat in the previous year's semi final when they retook the lead when Simon Blackburn played Joe France in to score, but Handsworth showed some real spirit to come back a second time, although it needed another big slice of luck when Robert Pratt's shot was deflected first by team mate Scott Abramski and then a defender before finding the net. Referee Alan Streets was another to be having a terrific game and he eventually blew the whistle that meant the first ever penalty shoot out.
Although Abramski had his penalty saved by the Oak keeper, it swung in Handsworth's favour when after Will Blakeney saw his penalty saved before Jon Riley put his wide and it was left to
David Cawrey (pictured) to step up and send the keeper the wrong way to clinch it for Handsworth.
All photos from this year's semi finals are courtesy of Mark Rodgers Photography
Woodhouse West End got off to the perfect start when
Dale Fuller put them ahead very early in the game, but Pitsmoor fought back and grabbed a deserved equaliser through Glynn Graham. It then got even better for the Division One side when Gavin Davis struck to put them ahead, but West End replied within a minute when a flowing move ended with an expert finish from Sammy
Glaves.
The second half saw West End nose their way back in front with Fuller's second of the game, but they then needed keeper John Badkin to provide one of the performances of the season to stop Pitsmoor from pegging them back again. West End clinched it when Spencer Taylor showed all his experience to score and they would have had a fifth had it not been for a remarkable penalty save by Pitsmoor keeper Lee
Chesters.
CBC Premier Ball widen gap at top, while Linfoot save Steels
While West End were getting their cup glory, Blue Ball took full advantage to open up a four point gap at the top of the CBC Premier with a narrow 2-1 home win over Niagara. Joe Barker gave Ball the lead midway through the first half and after Lee Johnstone had terrorised the visitors defence, Adam Podmore doubled their lead in the second half. Craig Foster popped up to pull one back for Niagara to set up a nervy finish for the leaders, but they held on without too many scares.
The most important game in the CBC Premier though came at Woodhouse Angel who entertained the Stocksbridge Park Steels side just one place and three points above them. Steels looked to have eased their relegation fears considerably when Jamie Newton and Adam Todd gave them a two goal lead, but Angel found the spirit to come back and were level at the break with two Kirk Briddon strikes.
Angel then must have thought they would get the all important three points when David Price put them ahead, but Steels had the final say through Jim Linfoot to keep them three points ahead.
Redmires produced one of their best performances of the season to end guarantee their place in the top flight for next season with a 4-0 victory over Ecclesfield Travellers. Danny Lindley was a real handful for the visitors defence and he took advantage of a defensive mix-up to put Redmires ahead and he doubled their lead after being set up by Wayne
Beggs.
Beggs was also causing problems for the Travellers defence and it was his pace that took him past two defenders before making it three after the break and Del Whyte's left foot finish made it four, but they should have also had a fifth, but keeper Karl Taylor missed his moment of glory from the penalty spot.
Stannington Village maintained their chance of a top four finish with a 3-0 victory over already relegated Laycock Sports. Eddie Payne scored his first for the club after just seven minutes and Jack Mylnek made it two with a left foot shot into the roof of the net, before Josh Wright set up Sean Flynn to complete the scoring.
Division One Danny's good turn for Millhouses, Devonshire into top three
In Division One, Millhouses Abacrombie maintained their title hopes with a 4-0 win over Sheldon. Danny Turner put Rob Gardiner through to give Millhouses a half time lead and after the break Turner put himself on the
scoresheet. Turner then hooked home his second, before Ben Woodman made it four with a free kick, but Sheldon never gave up and hit both post and bar late on.
A promotion six-pointer saw Devonshire win 5-2 at Handsworth Old Boys to take their place in the top three for the first time this season. Adrian Von Wurzbach opened the scoring when he found himself one-on-one with the Handsworth keeper, but the home side hit back to take a half time lead with goals from James Law and Tommy Brown.
Devonshire levelled when Chris Leek fired home a rebound and Von Wurzbach grabbed his second of the game to put them back in front. Jack Edwards was then felled in the area and Ross Melas made it four from the spot, before his second put the result beyond doubt late on.
Loxley climbed to fourth with a 6-3 victory over a Park & Arbour LFS side still looking nervously over their shoulders at the relegation pack. Park started brightly, so it was slightly against the run of play when Mick Smith's mishit volley from keeper Richard Walker's long clearance found the net, but there was nothing fortunate about skipper Liam Bamforth's header from Andy Hogg's cross to double Loxley's lead.
Chris Whalley's looping header made it three before the break and soon after the interval, Craig Crownshaw dinked one over the keeper to make it four. Simon Windle then pulled one back for Park with a real stunner from just inside his own half, but Whalley ensured his man-of-the-match status with a couple of step overs before hitting his second. Danny Adkins pulled another back for Park, before Glen Kirby made it six for Loxley, but Windle scored his second of the game to complete the scoring.
Division
Two Christie treble
as Brimington go top, Kilham keeps Bush in touch
After Civil Service's game with Oughtibridge Village was postponed, FC Brimington took full advantage to become the new leaders of Division Two with an 8-0 drubbing of bottom club Freemasons Arms.
After
Brimington's midweek win it meant that victory against Freemasons would
take them top on goal difference and it didn't take long for Leversidge and Christie
to combine to play in Gartlan for the first and Gartlan returned the favour for Christie to
head home the second. Christie the put the ball into the stride of Fadiga for him to score the third before Gartlan took himself to the top of the League's goalscorers charts with his second.
Crossland was brought down in the area and keeper Newton stepped up to send his opposite number the wrong way before Christie lobbed the keeper to make it six and he completed his hat-trick soon after. Fadiga completed the scoring, but Freemasons should be congratulated for always trying to play football and getting the game on in the first place.
Hollin Bush are third, just a point behind the top two after their 3-1 away win at Anston Athletic. They were rocked though when Adam Russell gave Anston the lead, but sloppy defending allowed Kyle Kilham to level before the break. Kilham added another in the second half to put Bush ahead and Daniel Cooper made the points safe with a third.
Junior Blades continued their good run as Tom Higginbottom hit all their goals in a 3-1 win at Fairbank-Rhodes. Trailing by two at the interval, Fairbank's man of the match Andy Baxter gave his side hope when he pulled one back, but Higginbottom headed his third to make the points safe.
Colley Club also won 3-1 away at Bulls Head. Delroy Palmer flicked on for Tony Hodge to end his ten game barren spell with the first and Kim Johnstone poked home the second after the break. Nick Ash pulled one back for Bull and they searched hard for an equaliser, but Ian Seward's late strike settled it for Colley.