Report week ending Sunday 24 April 2005
JORDANTHORPE TAKE DIVISION TWO TITLE, WHILE REDMIRES SINK ARK TO PIP THEM TO DIV 1 RUNNERS-UP SPOT.
After
falling behind on the stroke of half time, CBC Premier Hemsworth Villa
produced a stirring second half display to finally overcome their Division
One opponents Woodhouse West End and win the Dairy Farmers of Britain Milk
Cup Final at Bramall Lane for a second time in three seasons.
Villa should have taken the lead in the first minute when Ian Holmes (pictured on the right in the white shirt) broke down the left. His cross was inch perfect for Scott Moat, but made a real hash of it and sent it sailing over the bar. Soon after Holmes, who went on to collect the sponsors Man-of-the-Match Award, again tore down the left and this time his cross was met by Mark Hopkinson, but he could only manage to hit it even further from the target.
After that though it was the new Division One champions Woodhouse West End that had the better of the first half, although their neat football rarely looked like opening up the Villa defence, but just as Villa must have thought they would go into the half time break level, West End skipper Dale Fuller played a slick one-two before squeezing his shot under the body of the advancing Jamie King to give West End the lead
Villa had tended to play too much long ball in the first half, but after the break they knuckled down to play more of the swift passing game expected of them. They gradually began to push West End back and should have equalised early in the second half. Scott Moat cut in from the left and when his shot that came back off the crossbar shot came back off the crossbar, it fell to Villa's leading scorer Lee Webber, but he somehow managed to head over the bar.
His blushes were spared soon afterwards. West End centre back Dave Kippax made his only mistake of the game and Danny Ebbutt charged down his clearance just in the West End half he advanced quickly forward. Webber made a run that took two defenders with him and Ebbutt used the space to continue his run, then skipped round a defender on the edge of the area before unleashing an unstoppable shot that flew in off the croosbar.
Villa were now controlling the game as West End struggled to get hold of the ball and Ebbutt nearly won it for them when he advanced into the area, but his shot from a tight angle was brilliantly saved by John Badkin and the resulting corner was cleared.
With Dale Fuller epitomising their spirit and committment, West End tried to get back into it, but they were finding no way through a Villa defence expertly marshalled by the superb Dave Maw and with extra time beckoning, Villa grabbed the goal that decided it. As the West End defence came out, Scott Moat timed his run perfectly and beat the advancing keeper from just inside the area.
Webber could then have clinched it when he was clean through, but West End keeper John Badkin produced another terrific save at his feet. West End tried to get back, but the nearest they came was a free kick that went over the bar and at the end it was Villa's cup for a second time in three seasons.
LEAGUE GAME
On Thursday 28 April, the final league game of the season saw second half goals from Mark Barraclough and Chris Kelly give Stocksbridge Park Steels 'A' a 2-0 victory over Dronfield Town, a result that kept Steels in fifth and Town in sixth place.
Report week ending Sunday 24 April 2005
JORDANTHORPE TAKE DIVISION TWO TITLE, WHILE REDMIRES SINK ARK TO PIP THEM TO DIV 1 RUNNERS-UP SPOT.
In
the final game of the season Jordanthorpe Hotel took the Division Two
title from under the noses of their nearest rivals New Inn Norton when
they did what New Inn failed to do, beat Lynthorpe Oak.
Three weeks ago New Inn were in exactly the same position, but they failed
to beat Oak in their final game and gave Jordanthorpe the chance to steal
the crown that looked certain to be their's.
Jordanthorpe still had a lot to do. They would have to make it ten
successive wins by winning all their last five games and when it came down
to their final game against Oak, they made no mistake.
Although Oak enjoyed a promising start to the game it was Jordanthorpe's
leading scorer Chris Ideson that was the first to get his name on the
scoresheet and he was quickly followed by birthday boy Craig Green.
Oak didn't lie down though and Mick Gabbittas found himself unmarked at
the back post to reduce the arrears before half time, but after the break
Jordanthorpe's skipper Lee Barringham calmed his side's nerves with a real
peach of a goal, beating Wayne Bralsford in the Oak goal from thirty
yards.
It had needed something special to beat Wayne at that stage as he was in
great form in his final game after sixteen seasons with Oak and inspired
by him his brother Simon again put Oak right back in the game with his
side's second.
That set Jordanthorpe's nerves was on edge and it looked like Oak might do
what they had done to New Inn, but the game was finally settled when
manager Bob Oldfield sent on sub Lee Sargent to strike his side's fourth
near the end allowing Jordanthorpe to pinch the title by a point.
With as many as five or six sides possibly being promoted, the other two
Division Two games between Stocksbridge Park Steels and Ball Boys, and Pen
Nook and Burgoyne Arms were almost as critical.
Burgoyne started the day in fifth and it looked good for them when Darren
Firth gave them an early lead, but victory for their hosts Pen Nook would
give them the chance to finish fifth and they levelled when Steve Marshall
found the net.
Ryan Cockayne then put Nook ahead, but Burgoyne hit back with Firth's
second before the break and he put them back in front with his third early
in the second half.
The game was a terrific advert for Division Two and Nook stormed back to
first level through Mark Dobbs and take the lead for a second time when
Mark Woodcock fired home, but Burgoyne had the final say when Chris
Greenwood rescued a point for them and more importantly, stop Nook from
climbing above them.
That result meant that Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B' would finish fifth if
they could beat visitors Ball Boys and they made no mistake, crushing
their visitors 5-0.
Daniel McLean gave Steels the lead, Button added a second and the game was
as good as won before half time when Adam Todd added a third, but just to
make sure, McLean added two more in the second half to complete his
hat-trick.
Noah's Ark went into their game with new Division One champions knowing
that victory would make certain they finished runners-up to their hosts,
yet despite a Matt Crossland goal they were no match for West End.
Man of the match Dale Fuller crashed in West End's first, Alan Hull netted
a second, Danny Hooper their third and Stuart Palmer, with his first goal
for two years made it four.
While that was happening, the only side that could climb above Noah's Ark,
Redmires, was entertaining Royal Oak Pitsmoor and a below par first half
saw them go in goalless.
It was a different story in the second half though and Lee Rodgers quickly
put Redmires ahead. Craig Gambling grabbed a second and Luke Siggs made
certain of victory with his side's third.
That set up a final game decider between Redmires and Noah's Ark and after
the sparks had flown between the two sides before, this was a game that
needed cool heads.
Ark were first to show and it needed a great save by Redmires' keeper Carl
Taylor to keep his side level, but the first goal wasn't too long coming.
Tom Lawrence's through ball picked out stand in striker Andy Birks and he
made no mistake to put Redmires in front.
Birks was revelling in his new role and he added two more to complete a
first half hat-trick and the home side were just as dominant after the
break. James O'Connell hit a fourth from close range, Lee Rodgers struck a
fifth and O'Connell hit his second to make it six.
Just to rub it in, when Ark were awarded a penalty, Taylor produced
another terrific save to keep a clean sheet and make sure Redmires too the
runners-up spot in style.
West End had only dropped two points all season, but that figure was
doubled in their final game when they were held to a goalless draw by a
Crookes Club that look destined to join them in the CBC Premier next
season.
In the CBC Premier, Woodhouse George were already champions, but the race
for second place was between last season's champions Stannington Village
and Hemsworth Villa.
Villa had the tough task of trying to beat the new champions Woodhouse
George and they got off to the perfect start when Danny Burke fired them
in front after just five minutes. They looked as if they would still have
that lead at half time, but with only seconds left, Paul Hancock struck a
thunderbolt of a free kick to level the scores.
Neither side could get on top in the second half, although Lee Webber came
nearest to hitting a winner for Villa when he struck a post.
That meant that Stannington Village needed just a point from their
remaining two games, but it didn't look too good for them in the first of
them when Ian Parkes gave visitors Dronfield Town the lead.
Village needn't have worried though as two Kevin Bly strikes had them in
front by half time and Simon Howe scored a real cracker in the second half
to make the runners-up spot safe.
Village rounded their season off in style with another home win, 5-2 over
a Handsworth Old Boys that showed enough spirit to suggest that they will
make a rapid return to the top flight.
David Hague, Kevin Bly and David Milner put Village three up, but the Old
Boys hit back with goals from Robert Pratt and Ryan Goodison. It summed
the Old Boys season up when Mark Barnsley put the ball past his own keeper
to restore Village's two goal advantage and they then saw Goodison fire
wide from the penalty spot before Hague struck a fifth for Village.
Hemsworth Villa's final league game before next Tuesday's Dairy Farmers of
Britain Milk Cup Final at Bramall Lane saw Danny Burke give them an early
lead against Minnies.
Minnies wanted to do well as this was their final game before calling it a
day and they fought back to level through the impressive Shane Toulson,
before taking the lead through one of their best performers over the
years, Mick Wall.
It wasn't to be their day though and Scott Moat's glancing headers and
Moat, helped by the pinpoint crosses from Kev Symington went on to give
Villa the points with two more in the second half.
Woodhouse George finished their season off with a flourish, hammering
Dronfield Town 8-1 to take their total for the season to a hundred and
twelve, and Stocksbridge Park Steels 'A' ended their season with a home
win over Freedom House. David Hodgkinson's cross-cum-shot put Steels ahead
and Craig Barrowclough headed his brother Mark's cross home to double
their lead. Wayne Bird pulled one back, but Steels held on.
SCS Park also ended their season with a 2-1 victory, over Handsworth WMC.
Michael Wood and Ed Colton goals put them two up before George Barnes
pulled one back and only a terrific save by stand-in keeper Andy Hague
stopped Handsworth taking a share of the spoils.
Report week ending Sunday 17 April 2005
DOUBLE JOY FOR WOODHOUSE AS GEORGE LIFT LEAGUE TITLE AND WEST END TAKE DIVISION ONE CROWN.
It
was celebrations all round in Woodhouse as a last gasp Chris Towey strike
sent the CBC Premier title Woodhouse George's way, while six different
scorers ensured the Division One title was Woodhouse West End's.
Also celebrating were SCS Paark and Handsworth WMC after victories for
them meant their place in the CBC Premier was secure for another season,
while Noah's Ark guaranteed themselves a top three finish in Division One
with their sixth clean sheet away from home and Redmires, despite the
disappointment of defeat in the County FA Sunday Junior Cup Final, are
virtually certain to take the other place in the top three.
Lord Nelson guaranteed themselves promotion from Division Two and
Jordanthorpe Hotel just need to win their final game of the season to take
the Division Two title.
Reigning League champions Stannington Village knew that to have any
realistic chance of retaining the title they had to win all their
remaining games and the week began badly when they could only come away
from Stocksbridge Park Steels 'A' with a 3-3 draw.
Despite Simon Howe and Kevin Bly strikes, it could have been even worse
for them as they were trailing to a Chris Kelly treble going into the
final minute, but Bly's second earned them a draw.
That meant they had to beat Woodhouse George, but it was George that drew
first blood through Michael Blythen. Lee Adnett hit a real screamer from
30 yards to level, only for Blythen's second to put George back in front.
It looked as if it would stay like that, but an explosive last five
minutes saw the lead change hands and three equalisers. David Hague netted
from the penalty spot to bring Stannington level again and Steve Taylor
then put them ahead, only to then see Blythen to complete his hat-trick.
Stannington poured forward again and with less than a minute remaining
Simon Howe lasted them in front with a shot that went in off the crossbar,
but the celebrations quickly turned George's way when they went straight
back down the pitch and Chris Towey equalised again with just five seconds
left on the clock to take the title to Woodhouse in their first season in
the top flight.
Earlier in the week the Dairy Farmers of Britain Milk Cup finalists
Hemsworth Villa guaranteed themselves a top three finish when a double
from Ian Holmes and one from Danny Burke gave them a three goal victory at
Dronfield Town.
Further down the table both Handsworth WMC and SCS Park grabbed the
victories that made their place in the CBC Premier safe. Former Grimsby
Town man Mark Smith gave Handsworth the lead at home to Minnies, but Paul
Smith levelled before the break.
Handsworth needn't have worried though as George Barnes' bullet header had
them back in front soon after the break and Eddie Holmes made it three
before Maark Smith grabbed his second to make the points safe.
It didn't look good for SCS Park when Nick Horsfield and Ian Parkes
strikes saw Dronfield Town take an early two goal lead, but Park came
storming back and helped by an Adam Parker treble they built a 5-2 lead.
Matt Hill, veteran Steve McMain, Michael Wood and Joe Barker also put
their names on the scoresheet before two Rob Ireland goals for Town left
the final score at 7-4.
For the first time this season Division One leaders Woodhouse West End
dropped points when they could only draw at Redmires. Luke Siggs put
Redmires in front when he got on the end of Jamie Milnes flick and
Redmires also scored the other goal when Craig Gambling got into a real
mess with his keeper and put the ball into his own goal.
That meant the champagne had to be put on ice until the weekend and they
made no mistake this time as six different players put their name on the
scoresheet for the 6-2 victory over Oughtibridge Village that gave them
the Division One title at their first attempt.
Andy Cox, Dale Fuller, Dave Kippax and Spencer Taylor all found the net in
the first half while Andy Glaves and Danny Hooper hit their's after the
break, while Village's two goals came from David Hudson.
Noah's Ark went into the week knowing that two victories would give them a
top three finish and Gavin Machin and Richard Sawyer strikes saw them
start with a 2-0 victory at Civil Service.
That meant that another victory over fellow promotion contenders Crookes
Club would do the trick and after another solid defensive performance,
goals from Dave Thornhill and Danny Myers in the last fifteen minutes gave
Ark the points and a sixth clean sheet away from home. That result also
meant that barring miracles, Redmires will also finish in the top three.
Jordanthorpe Hotel knew that victories in their final three games would
see them snatch the Division Two title from under the noses of local
rivals New Inn Norton and their week started well as doubles from Chris
Ideson and Lee Barringham, together with a first touch strike from sub
Simon Major gave them a 5-2 triumph at Loxley.
Pen Nook were next up and it took Jordanthorpe just fifteen minutes to
break the dealock when Spencer Colton's bullet header beat the Nook keeper
all ends up. They had to wait until the second half before Neil Ideson
extended that lead and his brother Chris stepped off the subs bench to net
their third and leave them just one win away from the title.
Pen Nook had had better luck earlier in the week when they came out of
their local derby with Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B' with the three points,
courtesy of a single Mark Dobbs strike.
Another winner in midweek was Ball Boys as a Gareth Simonds treble
and one from John Hancock gave them a 4-1 victory at Dynamo Hartshead.
Dynamo's goal came from Paul Gregory's nineteenth of the season.
Ball didn't do as well at the weekend when Lord Nelson completed the 2-1
victory over them that garanteed the third automatic promotion place would
go Nelson's way. Ryan Mc Guiness struck Ball's goal, while Nelson's two
both came from 'Captain Fantastic' Dave Thompson.
Laycock Sports and Burgoyne Arms went into their clash knowing that the
winner would finish in the fourth place that is also likely to get them
promoted and it was Burgoyne that took an early lead through Darren Firth.
Andy Register levelled before Matt Kent put Laycock's in front and Sam
Sequerra made it three. Craig Kipling then hit an exceedingly good goal to
make it four, before Shane Spence struck Laycock's fifth. Burgoyne netted
a second when a Laycock's defender knocked the ball past his own keeper,
but the points and fourth place were Laycock's.
Redmires bid to become the second Blades Super Draw side to lift the
County FA Sunday Junior Cup ended in defeat by Swinton WMC in the final at
Stocksbridge Park Steels Bracken Moor ground.
The strong Mexborough League side stopped Redmires from ever getting into
their stride and they deservedly took the trophy, but it had been a
fantastic run by Redmires and they can be proud that they came so close..
Report week ending Sunday 10 April 2005
GEORGE SET TO TAKE TITLE OFF STANNINGTON AND WEST END SET TO MAKE IT A WOODHOUSE DOUBLE, BUT NEW INN LEFT SWEATING AFTER BEING HELD BY LYNTHORPE OAK.
Woodhouse George took a massive step towards the CBC Premier title by taking all three points from their visit to the only side that could deny them, current champions Stannington Village and Woodhouse West End could also soon be celebrating after two victories in four days left them just one more win away from the Division One title, but New Inn Norton missed their chance to clinch the Division Two title when they were held at home by Lynthorpe Oak.
Woodhouse George knew that if they could win at Stannington the title was as good as their's and they got off to a great start when Michael Blythen fired them in front in a tight first half.
The second period was just as tight until a slip in the centre of the Stannington defence saw Kirk Briddon get away and he made no mistake to put George two up. That meant Stannington had to throw men forward and Blythen took advantage of the gaps at the back to hit a clinching third goal.
Blythen hit another double six days later when George travelled to Minnies and came away with a 5-1 victory. Briddon also scored two, with the other coming from Chris Towey, while Minnies only reply came from Richard Wright.
Stannington kept their slim hopes alive by hammering Moorview Ranges 7-3. Simon Howe, Ben Palmer and two from David Hague had Stannington four up at the interval and after the break Hague collected his third before Jonathan Wigfield hit his first of the season. Ranges staged a recovery with two from Oliver Metcalfe and one from Shaun Dale halving the arrears, but Stannington had the final word with a Kevin Bly strike.
Dronfield Town gave themselves a great chance of a top three finish when second half goals from Adam Fordham and Pete Myers gave them a 2-0 midweek win at Freedom House, but although Fordham was again on target when the sides met again six days later, it was Freedom that came out on top.
This time Freedom were much too strong for Town and doubles from Andy Gray and Darryl Howcutt had them four up before two strikes by Fordham and Parkes made the scoreline more respectable for Town.
SCS Park must have thought they had secured their place in the top flight for another season when Matt Hill and Lee Bridges strikes gave them a very deserved two goal lead at home to Hemsworth Villa, but an Ian Holmes goal for Villa just before the break proved to be a turning point.
The second half saw Villa gradually get on top and top scorer Lee Webber struck an equaliser. Park then had a good shout for a penalty turned down and it summed their season up when the ball went down the other end a handball in the area saw a penalty award go Villa's way and Webber struck it home to win it for Villa and leave their hosts sweating again.
Two victories in four days have left Woodhouse West End just one more win away from the Division One title. Despite a rare goal against by Royal Oak Pitsmoor's Julian Woods, goals from John Faruga, Dale Fuller and Lee Glaves' double ensured West End came away with a 4-1 victory and Glaves again hit two four days later when they beat Telecom Sports 3-1. Faruga also netted again, while Telecom's consolation came from James Pawley.
Telecom did better in midweek when they held promotion seeking Redmires to a 1-1 draw. A Luke Siggs corner found the head of skipper Des Pike to give Redmires a first half lead and had they taken some of the many chances they created they would have been out of sight by the interval, but Telecom hung in and when Dean Grayson for once got away from his marker Nick Milnes he netted to leave it all square.
Redmires must have thought they were going to drop more points when they again missed a host of chances against second bottom Niagara. The visitors keeper Steve Brady was also in inspired form and Liam Hunt almost gave Niagara the lead, but Redmires breathed a sigh of relief when leading scorer Lee Rodgers finally beat him with just five minutes remaining.
Noah's Ark looked even more certain to be dropping valuable promotion points when it was still goalless going into the last two minutes of their game at Oxspring United, but Ark's promotion hopes were boosted by three goals in those last two minutes. Jon Crossland struck the first, quickly followed by one from Thornhill and another from Gent.
New Inn Norton went into their final game of the season against third from bottom Lynthorpe Oak knowing that a twelfth victory on the trot would secure the Division Two title, but Oak are a much better team than their position suggests and Inn stumbled at that final hurdle.
Oak changed their defensive system for the game, moving Ricky Tidy from his striking role to a place in a back four and the change worked a treat as they repeatedly stifled the normally prolific Inn attack.
Oak also got a boost of the opening goal from their own ace marksman Steve Fairbank and although James Sullivan levelled with a header before the break, it was the only time Inn could break through and their chance was lost.
Jordanthorpe Hotel can now steal the title from under their noses providing they win all their remaining games and they started the run by doing what New Inn couldn't do - beating Lynthorpe Oak. Mick Gabbittas netted for Oak, but strikes from Chris Ideson, Simon Major and David Goodge made certain Jordanthorpe stayed on track.
Next up was a visit to Dynamo Hartshead and with Ideson taking his tally to ten in his last five games, this time Jordanthorpe's came away with an even more emphatic 6-2 victory.
Scott Wostenholme, Craig Green, Chris Savage and Lee Barringham hit Jordanthorpe's others while Dynamo's consolations came from a Paul Gregory penalty and Jim Linfoot. Jordanthorpe now need to win their final three games to take the title.
Lord Nelson had the chance to make an automatic promotion place certain when they travelled to Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B' and when skipper put them ahead everything was going to plan, but Steels hit back in the second half and goals from Dan MacLean and Button put Lord Nelson's celebrations on hold.
That meant Burgoyne Arms could climb above them, but Lord Nelson needn't have worried as Burgoyne allowed a two goal lead to slip from their grasp to go down 3-2 at home to Ball Boys.
Things looked good for Burgoyne when Andy Mitchell set Gareth Roberts up for the first half opener and that third place was looking even more certain when minutes after the restart the roles were reversed as Roberts set Mitchell up to double their lead, but that's when it all began to go wrong.
Instead of capitulating Ball bounced back and John Hancock set Arms nerves jangling with his side's first and when Gareth Simonds shot took a bad bounce to deceive the keeper they were level. Both sides went flat out now and it was Ball that completed the comeback as Ryan McGuiness netted their winner. Burgoyne could still pip Lord Nelson, but it would need some big wins and large defeats for it to happen.
With more than three teams likely to be promoted, Pen Nook's visit to Laycock Sports was a big six pointer and it looked to be going Nook's way when Lee Revitt danced past four defenders before producing a sublime finish to put his side ahead.
Laycock's needed some inspiration to get back into the game and it came in the shape of ace marksman Sam Sequerra who levelled before the interval, before winning it for them in the second half.
Report week ending Sunday 3 April 2005
STANNINGTON END VILLA HOODOO, WHILE WEST END AND NEW INN EDGE TOWARDS TITLES
The
race for the CBC Premier title race is now down to just two after
Stannington Village gained revenge for their Dairy Farmers of Britain Milk
Cup defeat by beating Hemsworth Villa 1-0.
The Division One title looks set to go to Woodhouse West End after two
wins in five days and Redmires and Noah's Ark look set to join them in the
CBC Premier after more wins for them.
New Inn Norton are just one win away from the Division Two title after
they came back from two down to beat Loxley, but Jordanthorpe haven't yet
given up the chase with their 2-0 win at Pen Nook.
Stannington Village started the week off well as goals from David Hague,
Kevin Bly, Paul Womack and two from Ben Palmer gave them a comfortable 5-1
victory at Minnies and that gave them the confidence they needed against a
Hemsworth Villa that had beaten them in the cup just a few weeks ago.
Villa's Lee Webber had given them all kinds of problems in that cup defeat
and he had an early chance to cause them more problems, but Ben Ashton
produced a great save and it was Stannington that made the breakthrough
when defender Jon Swinburn was adjudged to have handled the ball in the
area.
David Hague stepped up to make no mistake and Stannington later hit both
bar and post. They could have paid for not increasing their advantage when
Webber had two more chances in the second half, but overall their
man-marking job on him served them well.
Woodhouse George kept their one hundred per cent away record in tact with
a hard earned win at Dronfield Town, but after Michael Blythen had given
them an early lead George didn't have it all their own way.
Nick Horsfield levelled for the home side and even though Blythen again
gave George the lead, a Pete Myers strike again had Town level. All that
came in the first half and after the break, for a while George couldn't
find a way through, but Chris Towey eventually fired them in front again
and Wes Pierce made it safe with their fourth.
A few days earlier, Town had left their local rivals Dronfield Talbot
hanging onto their CBC premier status by their fingertips. Talbot needed
to get at least a point to boost their survival hopes, but despite Steve
Adie and Matt Joicey strikes they went down 5-2 as two from Nick Horsfield
and singles from Pete Myers, John Perkins and Adam Fordham.
Handsworth Old Boys' time in the top flight looks under even greater
threat after they went down 4-0 at Freedom House in a game that came to a
premature end due to an ankle injury to Freedom's Ben Ward.
Ward had earlier found the net along with Des Pike and a Sean Flynn brace,
but when Ward sustained a suspected broken ankle, the game was brought to
a halt. Everyone wishes Ben a speedy recovery.
Division One leaders Woodhouse West End's all-win record was nearly
brought to an end by a Royal Oak Pitsmoor side that led at half time
through a John Mellor goal.
Spencer Taylor eventually grabbed an equaliser for West End, but their
record looked to be slipping away when he missed from the penalty spot.
With time almost up, sub Lee Dolan was sent into the fray and his impact
was instant, netting with just about his first touch to give West End the
winner.
Later in the week West End went on to complete a five goal demolition of
bottom side Civil Service as Lee Slade, Dave Kippax, Spencer Taylor, Lee
Glaves and Andy Cox all found the net.
Crookes Club are second after a 4-2 win at Oughtibridge Village, yet after
Kev Haigh and two from Paul Jennings gave Crookes a three goal after half
an hour, they were given a scare when Matt Siddall and Keith Hague had
reduced their lead to a single goal before half time. Soon after the
break, Pete Higgins doubled Crookes' lead with a free kick and with Simon
Bellamy outstanding they never looked like losing it.
Crookes' automatic promotion hopes still look flimsy as both Redmires and
Noah's Ark grabbed victories that left them just two points behind with
three games in hand.
Ark were far from impressive though at Royal Oak Pitsmoor and it was a
sloppy piece of defending that allowed Machin to fire home the only goal
of the game.
Redmires were much more impressive and with Luke Siggs back in the scoring
groove for them they first demolished Oughtibridge Village 7-0 before
winning 6-2 at Oxspring United. Lee Rodgers and Andy Birks put their names
on the scoresheet in both games, while a Simon Bradbury double was a key
part of the victory at Oxspring.
The Division Two title looks set to go New Inn Norton's way tomorrow after
they collected their eleventh win in succession with a 7-3 victory over
Loxley, and it looks as if Lord Nelson and Jordanthorpe Hotel will take
the other automatic promotion places.
It looked as if New Inn's title dreams would be shattered as Loxley jumped
quickest off the mark and Danny Bray and John Rhodes goals soon gave them
a two goal lead, but like true champions, New Inn came roaring back and a
James Sullivan pulled one back before Richard Dale struck the equaliser
and just before half time Sullivan gave them the lead from the penalty
spot.
Loxley didn't give up though and they were soon level with a Steve
Mayfield header, but they were finding Sullivan a real handful and he
completed his hat-trick to restore Inn's lead.
If that wasn't bad enough for Loxley, Inn's leading scorer Alex Yule then
decided he wasn't going to be outdone and his quick-fire treble took his
tally for the season to forty one and left a final score of 7-3.
New Inn still must win their final game though after Jordanthorpe Hotel
kept up their relentless chase with Craig Green and Chris Ideson's penalty
giving them a solid 2-0 victory at fellow promotion contenders Pen Nook.
Lord nelson stayed in the running for automatic promotion thanks mainly to
'Captain Marvel' Dave Thompson. His two goals proved just enough to see
off Dynamo Hartshead although they were left sweating after Paul Gregory
pulled one back for the home side.
Burgoyne Arms also stayed in the hunt with an equally narrow victory over
a Lynthorpe Oak that had stopped just about everything, including a Darren
Firth penalty, before slack marking allowed Simon Marcus to break the
deadlock with a header ten minutes from time. Darren Firth then made up
for his earlier miss when he scored his twenty second of the season with
the last kick of the game.
Laycock Sports were another to stay in the chase, but their 5-0 victory
over Handsworth New Crown wasn't quite as comfortable as it looked.
They only had an Andy Register penalty to show for their first half
efforts and even after Sam Sequerra had doubled their lead Crown never
gave up. It wasn't until Shane Spence decided to celebrate his birthday
with a hat-trick, that Laycocks finally put some distance between them.
Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B' also remained in the chase for promotion when
they finally overcame a Ball Boys side that put up a real fight before
going down 5-3.
Todd gave Steels the lead, only to see it wiped out by Gareth Simons, but
Steels were back in front before half time with a Rowe strike. Button
increased that lead shortly after the interval, but Ball hit back to level
with Matt Parkison and David Browse strikes.
The game could have gone either way at this stage, but Steels held their
nerve and two more from Todd and Button eventually made sure the three
points came their way.
Report week ending Sunday 24 May 2004
Roll of Honour 2003 / 04
The
Blades Super Draw League's Roll of Honour for the season just ended was
dominated by Stannington Village after they completed the first CBC
Premier and ACC Milk Cup double since 1998 and their ace marksman Simon
Howe carried off the CBC Premier's leading scorer award with 21 goals.
Woodhouse Stag took the Division One title and for a second season in a
row won the Best Goal Difference Award. Their top scorer Chris Towey's
total of 29 league goals won him both the Division One and the League's
Overall leading scorer trophies and they will have made up for the pain of
a second successive ACC Milk Cup semi final defeat.
The Division Two title has also gone to Woodhouse after West End won it
after the most thrilling title chase for years, while Lynthorpe Oak's
Steve Fairbank carried off the division's leading scorer award.
The full roll of honour is:
CBC PREMIER
Winners:
Stannington
Village
Runners-up
Hemsworth
Villa
Leading Goalscorer Simon Howe (Stannington Village)
DIVISION ONE
Winners:
Woodhouse
Stag
Runners-up
Freedom
House
Third Place
Dronfield
Greyhound
Leading Goalscorer Chris Towey (Woodhouse Stag)
DIVISION TWO
Winners:
Woodhouse
West End
Runners-up
Noahs
Ark
Third Place
Crookes
Club
Leading Goalscorer Steve Fairbank (Lynthorpe Oak)
Overall Leading Goalscorer Chris Towey (Woodhouse
Stag)
Best Goal Difference
Woodhouse
Stag
ACC MILK CUP
Winners:
Stannington
Village
Runners-up
Freedom
House
STEVE GEE MERIT CUP
Winners:
Handsworth
Old Boys
Runners-up
Hemsworth
Villa