27 Feb 2014 - Pen Nook fold - Pen Nook have decided to fold and will leave the League. All their points and goals will be removed from the tables etc, as will any goals scored against them.

23 Feb 2014 - CBC PREM - The Vine's title challenge hits the Wall, but Stannington make no mistake - The Vine’s CBC Premier title challenge hit a real wall this weekend as a hat-trick by Jon Wall and two from Dave Knaggs saw them crash 5-0 at Redmires. The Vine knew they were up against it when they were missing their regular keeper and their entire back four and Redmires had a great chance to open the scoring when a foul by Brent Heeley saw the referee point to the penalty spot, but Matt Reay hit the bar. Redmires did take a lead into half time though when Knaggs played a one-two with Mikey Taylor before scoring. The second half belonged to Wall with his hat-trick along with another from Knaggs inflicting the heaviest defeat of the season on the title chasers.

Stocksbridge Park Steels also dropped points after being held to a 2-2 draw by Ecclesfield Players Lounge. The game was just a minute old when Gavin Hunter’s cross was headed home by Andy Baxter to give Ecclesfield the lead, but two quick goals saw Steels take a half time lead. First it was Craig Barraclough that got on the end of Kev Davies’s cross to score and, straight from the kick-off, Steels won the ball and Adam Todd provided the perfect pass for George Orrell to give them the lead. Steels had chances to extend their lead in the second half, but it was Ecclesfield that grabbed an equaliser when Dale Hirst provided the opportunity for Danny Turner to score his sixth of the season. With Dan Touhey (right) instrumental in just about everything they did, Ecclesfield almost won it when Hunter’s shot was cleared off the line and Matt Groves and Joe Knight also went close.

Despite falling behind to a Mark Barraclough bullet header, reigning champions Stannington Village made no mistake with a 4-1 win at Woodhouse Angel. Lee Johnstone produced a pin point lob to level the scores and Robin Elliott then picked the ball up in the centre circle and beat three men before rifling the ball into the top corner to put Stannington ahead. Rob Shelley toe-poked a third, before Gavin Davis turned and curled the ball into the top corner to complete the scoring. Action from the game is below :

The Park kept their slim title hopes alive with a 5-2 victory at a Handsworth Turf now fighting a relegation battle. Aidy Tomlin connected with Jordan Belcher’s long throw to open the scoring for The Park and they doubled their lead with Jack Ridge’s third goal of the season. Turf pulled one back before half time when Ben Shack shaft converted Ty Wilson’s cross and they levelled after the break with a superb Tom Crosby free kick. Kieran Gallagher then forced a good save out of The Park keeper and Ryan Foster also went close, but a slip by Crosby allowed The Park’s Mark Townsend to race away and put them back in front and they sealed the points with a second from Tomlin and a solo goal from Ben Hetherington.

DIV 1 - Oughtibridge go top after stopping Oaks, while a Rushton double helps Anston to a shock win at Players Lounge  - The top two in Division One met at the Oughtibridge War Memorial ground and it was the home side, Oughtibridge WM that ended the day as leaders and strong favourites for the title after goals in each half gave them victory over Norton Oaks ‘A’.

Norton Oaks had a depleted squad for this crunch tie with seven players, but organised by centre back Kenny Brakes their defence coped with most things Oughtibridge could throw at them and Jack Moorhouse was keeping the dangerous Justin Westoby quiet. Coel Fulton was Norton's most effective player going forward with his movement and pace, but when a chance came his way he put it wide with his weaker foot.

The home side’s response saw Strachan Sampson beautifully tee himself up and hit a great shot which was brilliantly saved by Oaks keeper Cuevas-Nunez, but they should have opened the scoring when Tom Fletcher whipped in a great free kick only for Captain Joe Appleyard to volley high and wide, Danny Clinton also went close with a header from a David Sheakey cross.

Oaks then had a chance when Danny Reet struck one from distance which just flew past the angle, but when Sam Ireland headed a bouncing ball back towards his own goal it went to Danny Clinton and although his strike from outside the area was parried well by Cuevas-Nunez, Westoby was first to the loose ball to open the scoring. Oaks had a couple of chance after that but the home keeper Aaron Lamb confidently dealt with them.

Oaks started the second half confidently and an Oli West cross from the left saw Coel Fulton head to the far post but it bounced down off the angle and away from the goal. Norton's luck was really out when Fulton had to give way to a pulled hamstring. Oughtibridge began to get on top and when James Baker found Clinton with a great long pass, Clinton turned and laid a ball across the area to set up Tom Redman but he shot tamely at the keeper. Clinton then fired a chance straight at the keeper and a lovely turn and shot by Tom Fletcher just went wide.

As Oaks chased an equaliser and the game got stretched, gaps opened in the middle of the park and when Alex Hughes got caught the wrong side of his marker, he pulled him to ground in the area and Clinton despatched the penalty to all but end the game. Oughtibridge then spurned a couple of chances to extend their lead further, while Oaks did their best to get back into the game with Jack Moorhouse striking over, Andy Dawson hitting one wide and Danny Reet slicing high, but in the end Oughtibridge saw the game out as Oaks failed to score for the first time this season.

Oughtibridge WM

Arran Lamb, David Buckley, Jordan Hauge, Joe Appleyard (cap), Adam Collins, Matt Cundy, Strachan Sampson, David Sheakey, Tom Fletcher, Danny Clinton, Justin Westoby, Subs: James Baker, Danny Hill, Callum Hawley, Tom Redman

Norton Oaks ‘A’

Marcos Cuevas-Nunez, Dale Kay, Andy Dawson, Kenny Brakes, Alex Hughes, Jack Moorhouse, Ste Scott, Sam Ireland, Oli West, Coel Fulton, Danny Reet Sub: Mark Turton

More action from the game is below, including Oughtibridge's Sean Lee in one of his more thoughtful moods, along with assistant manager Leon Westoby!!

While Oughtibridge WM took over at the top of Division One with their 2-0 victory over Norton Oaks ‘A’, Fox & Hounds did their promotion chances no harm when three late goals saw them beat fellow promotion hopefuls Southey Social 3-0. The game looked set for a goalless draw until Harry ONeill provided a neat finish to put Fox ahead and as Southey chased an equaliser Fox took advantage of the spaces left. Jack Watson added Fox’s second after the ball came back off a post and the best move of the match, orchestrated by man of the match Matt Jebson, allowed Steve Davies to score a third.

Old Blue Ball also kept there hopes alive with a 3-2 win at Cobden View, but they only just made it after having a player dismissed. A Curtis Evans corner flew straight into the net to give Ball the lead and Callum Chambers made it two from the penalty spot. Reece McLandless’s flick on allowed Christian Rowe to head a third before half time and it might have been more had it not been for Mark Reaney first match of the season in the Cobden View goal. The second half turned out to be a lot tougher than the first. Joe Taylor headed one back for Cobden and when Jamie Simpson was brought down when clean through the referee had no option than to award the penalty and send the defender off. Simpson got up to score from the spot. Despite a few near misses after that the ball defence managed to hang on and keep their promotion hopes alive.

Players Lounge Athletic’s chances took a nosedive though after they suffered a 4-1 home defeat by an Anston Athletic doing their best to avoid the drop. Failure to defend set pieces were Lounge’s undoing as James Webster and two from Scott Rushton gave Anston a three goal half time lead and although Lewis Grist pulled one back, James Saxelby’s first goal of the season made sure Anston picked up their third consecutive victory.

Aston Swallownest also did their survival hopes no harm as they came away from Ranch with a 1-0 victory despite having had to play the entire game with just ten men. It was a real backs to the wall effort from Aston, but only Joe Langley had a real sight of the Aston goal from Ben Hartley’s cross and he couldn’t take it. Aston were quick to break when they could and when Sam Thorpe galloped forward he provided the cross for David Sills to slide in and score the game’s only goal.

DIV 2 - Crookes knocked of the top with defeat by Hare & Hounds, while a Hobson treble helps Intake go goal crazy - Division Two has new leaders after Hare & Hounds knocked Crookes & District off their perch with a 2-0 victory. Jake Schofield (left) missed a couple of chances to give Hounds the lead, but it was his corner to the back post that was headed home by Drew Pearson to give them a half time lead. Schofield was again the provider for George Rudd to score their second, but they were also indebted to their rooky keeper Ned Attrill for a terrific save to keep the Crookes out.

Up to second is Phoenix after they came from behind to beat Norton Oaks ‘B’ 2-1. After James Lockhart was brought down Jamie Marshall stepped up to give Norton the lead from the penalty spot, but from Matt Edwards’ corner, Joe Statham volleyed an equaliser to send them in level at the break. Phoenix eventually won it when Nicky Shaw (right) took his goal tally into double figures from an acute angle.

Intake Old Boys look set to fill one of the promotion spots after a Russ Hobson hat-trick helped to a 9-0 demolition of a Steelers side that started the day above them. Intake were gifted the lead when Kevan May’s forty yard shot went through the keeper’s hands and a push on Russ Hobson allowed John Higgins to pot their second from the spot. Louie Axcell’s long throw was headed home by Hobson to make it three and Hobson scored his second after good build up play by Adam Clayton and Tom Hall. Axcell drilled home a twenty five yarder to make it five at half time, but the onslaught continued after the break and Liam Parnell found the top corner after being set up by Hall. Hobson, Hall and Parnell all combined to set up the seventh for Tom Gabbitas and a Hall corner was headed home by Hobson to complete his hat-trick. The rout was completed when Parnell’s pass with the outside of his foot was perfectly weighted for Dan Meadows to score his first of the season.

22 Feb 2014 - The Fixtures and Referees for MARCH & APRIL are now shown - Home teams MUST make sure that their home pitch is available on all the dates shown. Please email Keith immediately if your pitch is not available on a date shown.

All home clubs must also confirm the details with your opponents and referees for all dates shown IMMEDIATELY.

Please email Keith immediately if any of the referees tell you they cannot do the fixture listed.

22 Feb 2014 - The Fixtures and Referees for MARCH & APRIL are now shown - Home teams MUST make sure that their home pitch is available on all the dates shown. Please email Keith immediately if your pitch is not available on a date shown.

All home clubs must also confirm the details with your opponents and referees for all dates shown IMMEDIATELY.

Please email Keith immediately if any of the referees tell you they cannot do the fixture listed.

16 Feb 2014 - CBC PREM - Senior Service ends Redmires run, while Waddle class helps Villa to a point - Just two games survived the wet weather last weekend, but they provided plenty of excitement and 11 goals in two close games. They also produced a vintage performance from ex-England and Owls ace Chris Waddle (right) and a match-winning hat-trick from Ecclesfield Players Lounge’s ace goalscorer Craig Senior that made him the club’s all time leading scorer with 234 goals.

Both Bulls Head and visitors Hemsworth Villa went into their game at something of a crossroads as Bulls Head’s title challenge was floundering after four consecutive defeats, while just one point on their travels had left Villa deep in relegation trouble at the foot of the table.

Villa started the game much the better of the two sides with Chris Waddle instrumental in everything they did, as he was throughout the game. Ten minutes into he game Waddle made the first chance of the game when he slipped Dan Milner in but the Bulls keeper made a double save. Waddle then found Milner out wide and when his cross came in Jack House looked certain to score until the ball came back off a post.

Bulls weathered this spell and began to have a larger share of the game, but with centre backs Ben Dronfield and Tom Brzuzy on top form, keeper Jamie Dean had little to do. Bulls pressure finally told though just before half time when Dronfield was penalised for a high foot and a free kick routine between Danny Bonnick and Alan Mowforth carved out the chance for Nick Ash to score. It quickly got worse for Villa when they were awarded another free kick and when Gregg Broomhead’s cross came in it struck the unfortunate Nathan Platts and went into his own goal.

Early second half pressure by Villa saw Waddle put Jack House in and although his effort once again came back off the post, this time Milner was first to the loose ball and he reduced the arrears. Bulls Head then had some good possession and it needed Rikki Parsisson to clear off the line to stop Bulls Head regaining their two goal advantage, but Villa caught them on the break when Waddle played a superb diagonal pass to Milner who, with the Bulls defenders appealing for offside, dinked his shot over the advancing keeper.

Bulls Head regained their lead when the unfortunate Platts pushed Bonnick in the back, leaving referee Alan Streets no choice but to award a penalty and Alan Mowforth sent keeper Dean the wrong way to make it 3-2 (see picture left). Villa didn’t give up though and leveled when a foul on House allowed Waddle to swing in a free kick to the back post where Tom Bzuzy headed back across the face of goal for Ben Dronfield to head home. Late on Bulls Head had a glorious chance at the back post from a cross, but it was headed over and Villa went home with a deserved share of the points. More action from the game is below.

Ecclesfield Players Lounge entertained a Redmires side they will meet in the Macron Cup semi finals at the end of March and with Ecclesfield not having played for four weeks they were understandably rusty and it was Redmires that started the stronger despite them being understrength due to injury and suspension. Mikey Taylor and Matt Reay both went close with close-range headers and they paid for those misses when referee Matt Tyers pointed to the spot after Craig Senior (right) was brought down in the area. Senior picked himself up to score the opener from the spot, a goal that also took him past Jayson Reeves previous total of 233 goals.

Although Redmires continued to have more of the game, they were caught out again when a quick break saw Dan Touhey slide the ball in for Senior to rifle his second past the Redmires keeper, but further Redmires pressure saw them get back into the game before half time when James Kirkham’s cross was headed home by Mikey Taylor.

Ecclesfield changed their formation at the start of the second half by bringing Dan Touhey into the back four to try to cancel out Redmires pacey forwards. Redmires pressed for an equaliser and both Dan Bathie and Ben Pailmer wasted glorious chances and to make matters worse they conceded a third when Senior completed his hat-trick with a spectacular shot into the roof of the net.

DIV 1 - All Division One games postponed - All the Division One games were postponed.

DIV 2 - All Division Two games postponed - All the Division Two games were postponed.

16 Feb 2014 - Villa get help from Gleadless Valley Community - The Gleadless Valley Community Forum has helped it oldest local team, Hemsworth Villa, pay for its pitch to the end of the season. Pictured with Hemsworth Villa secretary Mick Moat is the Forums general manager Steve Rundell who kindly listened to Villa's request for help and secured the funds for them.