8 MARCH – CBC PREMIER – Platts treble keeps Stannington in the hunt, but Earl still favourites –Royal Earl will retain the title if they win their final two games after winning 2-1 at Boynton Sports. Johno Williams hit a 30 yard free kick to put Earl ahead and Liam O Brien made it 2-0 with a simple finish. Boyton did all they could to break the Earl defence and they finally did it late in the game with a Jake Gamban goal, but Earl saw the game out.

Stannington Village are now the only team that can deny Royal Earl the title after a 5-0 victory over Southey Social. They took the lead when a corner fell to Dan White and he volleyed high in the roof of the net. They doubled the lead before half-time when Sam Hackett crossed for Aemad Gadour to rise well and head over the keeper,

On the hour Joel Purkiss’ pass allowed sub Connor Platts to net his first and soon after the same pair combined again for Platts to tap home his second. Platts completed his hat-rick when a cross-field ball from Tom Staniland found Purkiss and he squared for Platts to score at the second attempt. Had it not been for Southey’s keeper and MOM Rob Oxley making some outstanding saves the score would have been much more

Relegation threatened Nailmakers moved further away from the drop with a 3-1 victory over a Woodman side now just one more result away from certain relegation. Nailmakers started very slow and couldn't really get a foot hold in the game then it went from bad to worse when a defensive mix up lead to Ryan Hall giving Woodman the lead. This gave Nailmakers the kick they needed and Andy Taylor get on the end of a cross to put the teams level at the break.

After the break Nailmakers had a change of shape which worked to their advantage and they took the lead with a Dan Beech header. Shortly after it was 3-1 when Jack Joyce nodded home from a scrabble in the box. Nailmakers kept the ball well to make sure Woodman couldn't get back into it.

Jubilee entertained neighbours Wadsley Bridge Sixers for a game which both sides were determined to win, but it was Sixers that came away with the points thanks to a single George Rudd strike. Jubilee started out of the traps fast and created plenty of chances, but couldn’t make them count and Wadsley made them pay a great cross in was tapped home by Rudd. Jubilee rallied and created more and more chances but couldn’t make them count and the same story continued into the second half but Sixers held firm to get the win.

Eckington kept up the chase for a top three finish by edging a tight game with former champions Chapeltown RBL 1-0. The decisive moment came midway through the first half when after a quick break forward the ball fell to the feet of Aiden Horspool and he rifled it home.

RBL pushed hard after the break and created several promising chances. Afonso Ferreira twice came closest to equalising, one effort rolled just wide of the post, while another was denied by a strong save from the Eckington goalkeeper. Morgan Cowell also had two good attempts in the second half as RBL increased the pressure in search of a leveller, but Eckington held firm. At the other end, Lewis Fox played a key role in keeping Chap RBL in the game, producing a number of impressive saves throughout the match to prevent Eckington from extending their lead. Despite the late pressure and several near misses, Chap RBL couldn’t find the equaliser and Eckington held on to secure the win.

8 MARCH - DIVISION 1 – Hackenthorpe stay top, but Crookes slip up at Reds –Leaders Hackenthorpe came away from promotion rivals AFC Wisewood with a narrow 3-2 victory. Hackenthorpe took the lead when Aston Thompson provided the pass for Chad Gibson tap in. They doubled their lead when a fast paced cross from Harrison Case found a sliding Xavier Dandrade at back post.

Wisewood came out second half with grit between their teeth and goals from Will Osgathorpe and Oliver Scott brought them level. With game on a knife edge it could have gone either way with game opening up and chances at both ends. None were taken until Kydn Gray found Nathan Hunt in space, and he in turn found Xavier Dandrade’s dancing feet in an area with legs flying all over, but he composed himself and nestled the ball into bottom corner with his wrong foot for the winner. Pictures from the game shown below.

Mosborough Reds moved up to third with a 3-1 victory over a Crookes that had a depleted squad. Goals from Harrison Barker, Ash Hotchin and Ben Dronfield in first half put Reds in control and although Crookes pulled one back through Oli McQuillin mid-way through second they couldn’t breach the Reds defence again.

Brunsmeer gained their second away win of the season in style with a 5-1 victory over Kelham Island. Gareth Murdoch did most of the damage with four goals along with one from Taylor Askham. Oliver Maltby netted one for Kelham mid-way through the second half, but never really looked like getting back into the game.

Baby Shark gained their best win of the season with a 5-1 victory over Cotts. First half goals from Jahmal Riley, Cole Whitham and Keiron Sykes-Tobin put Shark in control. Roma Myers and Dan Ramsey added two more after the break making Chris Salt’s penalty for Cotts just a consolation.

1 MARCH – CBC PREMIER – Earl make it an unlucky 13 for the rest – Royal Earl widened their lead at the top to 13 points with an emphatic 4-1 victory at second place Wadsley Bridge Sixers. Royal Earl captain Joe Turner made it 1-0 after 6 mins with a header from a corner, but Sixes hit back to level before half-time with a Kane Doughty finish. The second half saw Earl retake the lead with a Connor Chapell penalty before Brandon Bagley made it 3-1 with a nice finish. Ashley Cooper made it 4-1 with a simple tap-in.

Stannington Village lost ground in the title race when they were held to a goalless draw by relegation threatened Nailmakers. With a very depleted Nailmakers squad it was as expected that Stannington took the game to them, but offered very little in the first half and it could have been Nailmakers that took the lead when a good save stopped Jack Joyce scoring with a header. In the second half Stannington rung in the changes, but Nailmakers kept strong and dealt with everything, the only attempt Stannington had on target in the half came when Luca DeFalco went through, but it was tipped around the post by keeper Luke Herriott.

Eckington kept up the chase for a top two finish with a hard earned 2-1 victory at Woodman. Eckington took advantage of a Woodman having to start with 10 men and scored n the first few minutes when a corner into the box was headed down by Lestyn Jones for Aiden Horspool to tap home. Despite Woodman coming into the game more, Eckington doubled their lead in the 38th minute when Horspool was played in down the left hand side to fire home. A very competitive and even matched second half saw Woodman scored deep into the second half when a corner was headed home at the back post by Shaun Garwell, and they were denied a point by a great save from a free kick. Pictures, right and below, from this game are courtesy of Ian Anderson.

Wickersley CC produced one of their best performances of the season to win 4-0 at a Boynton Sports pushing to get into the top five. A first half that saw Wickersley dominate proceedings, but just couldn't quite find that final ball or finish until a great bit of one touch play saw James Hardemen find space and whip a ball to the back post for Ben Thornton to finish.

It stayed like that until the second half with Boynton starting well and pushing Wickersley back, but a good bit of pressing then saw Liam Tomlinson win the ball high up, play a 1 -2 before finding the top corner. Wickersley then took over the game and scored a third when a quick free kick allowed Nathan Taylor to square it for Adam Daughtrey to score. James Hardemen wrapped the scoring up with a tidy finish.

Jubilee climbed out of the bottom three with their second away win of the season, 3-1 at Chapeltown RBL. RBL made the perfect start but were ultimately undone by a clinical Jubilee side. RBLopened the scoring when a dangerous in-swinging corner from Charlie Cope caused problems in the six-yard box and the returning Farbod Yousefi reacted quickest, flicking the ball in at the near post to give RBL a deserved early lead.

It was a bright, energetic opening from RBL, who looked sharp and organised, but Jubilee, responded with composure. They began to control possession and found their equaliser midway through the half, capitalising on a defensive lapse to draw level when Ross Lamkin found himself free to head home. Jubilee got their noses in front before the interval when Liam Hill-Simmons took matters into his own hands and fired home a 20 yard strike to the bottom corner.

RBL pushed to get back into the contest, showing determination and commitment, but clear-cut chances proved hard to come by against a disciplined Jubilee defence. As the game stretched late on, Jubilee made sure of the result with a third goal, when some good midfield work saw a ball fired across for Luke Campbell to tap home to put the outcome beyond doubt.

1 MARCH - DIVISION 1 – Cotts give the leaders a scare – Leaders Hackenthorpe battle to a hard-earned 1-0 victory at Cotts FC. In a scrappy contest played on a terrible pitch, where quality had to shine through sheer determination. Despite the conditions both teams dug deep, competed for every ball, but it was Hackenthorpe that found the moment of quality to take the points.

The breakthrough came in the second half when Harrison Case showed great pace to break away down the flank before delivering a pinpoint cross into the box and waiting at the back post was Xavier Dandrade, who kept his composure and tapped home to seal the win. At the other end, Aston Thompson was an absolute rock once again — dominant in the air, strong in the tackle, and organising everything in front of him to gain a fully deserved Man of the Match award, although Cotts veteran keeper James Newsome pushed him close.

Crookes come from behind to beat Norton Oaks 3-1 and stay in the promotion chase. Crookes were shocked when Oaks took the lead after a corner wasn’t cleared and James Addy tapped it in. Crookes began to create chances and finally replied when Dylan Murphy tapped home a cross to make it level at the break. Norton started the second half well, but it was Crookes that eventually took the lead through Ben Emsley from a corner. Crookes then wrapped up the points with a Cam Ronksley volley.

Loca FC kept up their title chase with a magnificent 7-1 victory over Kelham Island. Loca made a fast start and Jordan Thomas, with the help of Ollie Grady, put them ahead inside 5 minutes. Curtis Modest doubled their lead soon after, set up by Djamel Otmani. Logan Liggins made it three before halt-time from the penalty spot.

The second half saw Jamie Hopkins, on his return bend a 30-yard free kick into the bottom corner, before a foul on Ollie Grady gave Liggins the chance to score his second penalty. Callum Spencer decided subtlety was overrated and lashed one from 25 yards into the top corner, before Kelham grabbed a consolation through Kenneth Obazuaye, but it was Loca that completed the scoring when clever play down the left from Michael Golland, allowed Liggins to complete his hat-trick.

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