Report week ending Sunday 26 Sept 2004
No place like home - if you've got bouncebackability !!
There
was no place like home last weekend as twelve of the fifteen games ended
in home victories, although teams in all three divisions had to do
it the hard way after finding themselves two down.
Crookes
Club needed to be the Division One's comeback kings after visiting Civil
Service raced into a two goal with Martyn Kitridge and Martyn Twigger
strikes.
Adam Thorpe grabbed Crookes's first, before Paul Jennings hit a real
netbuster to pull them level. Jennings then put them ahead from the
penalty spot and Kev Haigh struck a fourth, before Service hit back with a
Simon Hall strike, but sub Francis Bryce-Lane made it safe with Club's
fifth.
After Dean Grayson treble had put Telecom Sports in command, Acorn
Academicals were nearly the day's comeback kings, but in the end they Ian
Cooper Matt Haslam and Alan Crofts strikes were all in vain as sub Paul
Marison marked his debut with a late winner for Telecom.
The only Division One side to lose at home was Niagara as Woodhouse West
End once again showed they will be the side to beat with a 5-0 victory.
Dave Kippax hit a superb treble, while Danny Hooper and Spencer Taylor on
his debut added the others.
The only other side to lose at home was the CBC Premier's leaders at the
start of the day, Handsworth Old Boys as they surrendered their unbeaten
record by losing 4-1 to SCS Park. Doubles from both Michael Wood and Tom
Farrell had Park in command by half time and although Alex Whitham pulled
one back after the break the Old Boys never looked like getting back in
the game.
Newly promoted Dronfield Town must have thought that they were also
heading for a home defeat when Staniland and Hird gave in-form Minnies a
two goal lead by half time, but the young hosts showed great
bouncebackability as first Chris Millington then Adam Fordham’s
cross-cum-shot levelled the scores, and their comeback was completed in
the final minute when Donald Robertson's free kick slipped through the
grasp of Minnies keeper.
Woodhouse George were also behind when Ian Holmes' sweet half volley put
visitors Hemsworth Villa ahead, but they levelled when Wes Pierce's shot
was deflected past the Villa keeper.
Pierce then spurned a great opportunity to put his side ahead when his
spot kick was saved by the Villa keeper, but when his side were awarded a
second hotly disputed penalty late in the game he showed great composure
to make no mistake a second time and give George the points.
Moorview Ranges also found themselves behind to Mark Barrowclough's good
finish for Stocksbridge Park Steels 'A', but Ranges earned themselves a
share of the spoils when Gary Ellis netted.
Stannington back on top, but Freedom right behind them
Back
on top of the CBC Premier is Stannington Village after they easily
disposed of Dronfield Talbot. Simon Howe and David Hague both hit doubles,
while Kevin Bly and Ben Palmer made it six. Lee Gardner and Matt Joicey
scored for Talbot but they never looked like producing a repeat of last
season's win over the champions.
Right behind Stannington is newly promoted Freedom House who have yet to
drop a point or concede a goal after Paul Staniland's audacious 40 yard
chip gave his side a single goal victory over Handsworth WMC.
Comeback kings in Division Two were Loxley as they stayed top after coming
from two down to beat a Laycock Sports who let a good lead slip for the
second game in a row.
After James Hurst and skipper Gary Luke had given Laycock's a two goal
interval lead, Loxley hit back through Carl Wells. John Rhodes then
levelled before Simon Mirfin edge Loxley in front, only for Laycock's to
hit back through veteran Mick Plumtree, but their luck ran out when a
defender turned the ball past his own keeper to give Loxley all three
points.
Lord
Nelson are breathing down their necks though after beating Dynamo
Hartshead 6-0 with a brace from Dave Thompson and one each from Matt Bray,
John Dickins, Brian McGuire and Jason Copley.
Third
are Stocksbridge Park Steels ‘B’ after they hung on for three points
at home to Lynthorpe Oak. Adam Todd’s opener was cancelled out by Scott
Guilfoyle, but Steels were back in front before half time when Simon
Jowitt converted a penalty.
Just
past the hour Daniel McLean struck Steels third only for Oak to narrow the
gap with a Steve Fairbank’s third penalty in as many games, but despite
putting the home side under severe pressure they couldn’t find a
leveller.
Pen
Nook made it two wins out of two as Alistair Thomas helped himself to a
treble in a 7-0 victory over Handsworth New Crown. Ryan Cockayne, David
Horton, Mark Dobbs and Lee Revitt netted the others.
Alex
Yule took his tally for the season to ten with a second half hat-trick as
New Inn Norton celebrated their first win of the season, 6-2 over Deep
End.
Ryan
Williams early free kick was cancelled out by a Martin Bullivant strike,
but James Sullivan and Carl Garrison strikes had Inn in control by half
time.
Darren
Firth reduced the arrears soon after the break, but after that Yule got to
work to give Deep End that sinking feeling.
Despite
a David Goodge goal for visitors Jordanthorpe Hotel, Ball Boys stepped up
their challenge as Lance Dixon, Mark Coggins and Gareth Simonds strikes
gave them a 3-1 victory.
Report week ending Sunday 19 Sept 2004
Moore points Old Boys to the top
The CBC Premier's early leaders are Handsworth Old Boys after their young side made it a perfect three out of three with a 3-1 victory at former champions Stocksbridge Park Steels.
The Old Boys were quickest into their stride and it was no surprise when Dale Moore fired them in front from close range with just ten minutes gone, but that sparked the old masters into life and five minutes later the unmarked Mark Barrowclough headed home at the back post.
The game swung the Old Boys way just before half time when Chris Taylor took Robert Pratt's inch perfect ball in his stride before tucking it under the advancing keeper.
After the break, Stocksbridge huffed and puffed without creating too many clear cut chances and it was again the Old Boys that looked the more threatening. When their third goal came though it was a gift wrapped present as Adrian Tazziman's mix-up with his keeper left
Alex Whitham with the simple task of tapping into an empty net.
Despite scoring four, the other Handsworth side didn't do so well as the Working Mens Club were outgunned by a rampant Woodhouse George.
After Shaun Waller and Michael Blythen had quickly put George two up, Kieron Gallagher pulled one back for Handsworth, but that was as near as they got.
Blythen completed a treble, while Wes Pierce and Chris Towey grabbed two each and although Gallagher added a second along with a Matt Hodgett strike and an own goal, Handsworth were never in it.
Another high scoring game saw last season's runners-up Hemsworth Villa hit for six by
Minnies.
Hird scored twice for Minnies, but each time they were cancelled out by Craig Scholey and Ian Holmes, but once Mick Wall nudged Minnies back in front there was no stopping them.
Wall added another and Shane Toulson and Mitchell also got their names on the scoresheet as they tore into a sorry looking Villa defence, although Villa eventually got a further consolation when youngster Connor Bell netted his first goal for the club.
It was a memorable day for two of the sides newly promoted to the CBC Premier as both Dronfield Town and Moorview Ranges recorded their first victories in the top flight.
Town's home game with SCS Park was a very tight affair and the game was won by a single Ross Carey strike, but Ranges victory at Dronfield Talbot was much more emphatic.
Gary McWilliams drove Ranges into a twentieth minute lead only to see Danny Gibb level on his debut with a tremendous left foot strike into the top corner. Both sides continued to make chances, but it was Ranges that got their noses in front just before half time when Jon Round netted.
That goal proved to be a turning point as Ranges quickly gained a stranglehold on the game and Ashleigh Fletcher soon added a third before Round scored his second of the game to ensure Ranges first win of the season.
Division One's only game saw Acorn Academicals (pictured) go level at the top when a last gasp Mark Hodgkinson goal direct from a corner gave them victory over Oughtibridge Village.
Strangely enough Village netted the first goal direct from a corner when Dave Hudson's flag kick flew straight into the net, but it wasn't long before Matt Wharing levelled and Chris Hall put Acorn in front.
Dave Buckley pulled Village back on level terms, but Acorn again nudged in front when Matt Haslam netted with the rarest of headers. Village came back again and looked to have earned a deserved point when Matt Siddall fired home, but all their hard work was undone by Hodgkinson's late late winner.
Newcomers Loxley are Division Two's early leaders after an emphatic 6-0 victory at Dynamo Hartshead.
John Bailey started things off with a great long range strike and their lead was doubled before half time by John Bailey.
Hartshead had given a good account of themselves during that half, but after the break they repeatedly came under the cosh and it wasn't too long before John Bailey added two more to complete his hat-trick.
Centre back John Benton netted his first of the season and Simon Mirfin finished the scoring to give Loxley their third successive win with just one goal conceded.
After a goalless first half Jordanthorpe Hotel stepped up a gear and grabbed their first league win of the season and ended Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B's 100% record. David Gouch grabbed the first before Craig Green and Spencer Colton both netted their first of the season to wrap up a 3-0 win for the home side.
Former League champions Laycock Sports certainly aren't finding life easy on their return to the league and after blowing a four goal lead at home to Lynthorpe Oak, they are still searching for that first win of the season.
James Hurst and a Mick Plumtree treble put Laycock's in command, or so they thought, but the alarm bells started to ring as soon as Craig Guilfoyle smacked home a twenty five yarder for the visitors.
Steve Fairbank pulled another back from the penalty spot and Hilton Stratford made a one on one with the Laycock's keeper look easy for their third and prompted by a magnificent display from Simon Bailsford, Oak poured forward in search of an
equaliser.
They left it very late though, but when it came it was a real beauty as Shaun Dolby curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
SHEFFIELD & HALLAMSHIRE COUNTY FA SUNDAY CUPS
League champions Stannington Village had an emphatic victory over Meadowhall opponents Springwood in the First Round of the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA Senior Sunday Cup.
Despite being several players understrength, Stannington never looked in any danger and they won it with Ben Palmers' first two goals of the season along with a third from Kevin Bly.
It was a good day in the Junior Sunday Cup with seven of our\ten clubs in the first round making progress.
One of the fallers was Division One side Royal Oak Pitsmoor and their defeat was a bit of a shock as they fell 3-1 to our Division Two side New Inn Norton.
New Inn had yet to record a point this season, but they got their noses in front when Richard Dale scored from the penalty spot. Oak hit back and went in level at half time after Glynn Walker netted his first of the season.
That was as good as it got for Oak though and it was Inn's ace marksman Alex Yule that scored his sixth and seventh of the season to put his side into the second round.
Handsworth New Crown were another Division Two side without a point this season, but they also made nonsense of that record as Ryan Buttery, Jason ball and Paulo Messina goals gave them a convincing 3-0 victory at Swallownest.
Niagara have yet to gain a point in Division One, but helped by a Simon Staniforth hat-trick, they turned in an impressive performance to beat Sheffield Trades & Labour 3-1
Crookes Club were our best winners of the day as Paul Jennings made it eight for the season with a four goal haul in a 7-0 victory over Horse & Jockey.
Three up in just ten minutes, the game was never a contest and it could have been many more, but as it was only Kev Haigh, Chris Smith and Wayne Binger added their names to the scoresheet.
Telecom Sports also had a stroll into the next round as they beat Pitsmoor Hotel 5-1. Dean Grayson bagged two along with one each from John Williams and Adam Bellamy. Telecom's fifth was an own goal, before Pitsmoor grabbed a late consolation.
Woodhouse West End also made easy progress into the second round after they chopped down Big Tree 4-0 with a Danny Hooper double and one each by David Haley and Andrew Cox.
In a game full of incident, Redmires also progressed with an impressive 4-2 victory over Sunday Imperial side Rising Sun.
Andy Birks put Redmires ahead and it looked plain sailing when Luke Siggs smacked a thunderous second, but Siggs then hit a penalty straight at the keeper and Sun made the most of their good luck by pulling one back before half time.
After the break Siggs showed nerves of steel when he converted a second penalty award, but Sun came back again and narrowed the deficit yet once more and they would have levelled, but for Carl Taylor's third penalty save of the season.
Redmires were hanging on a bit at this stage, but they eventually made it more comfortable when Lee Rodgers netted his first goal for the club.
Deep End went through without kicking a ball after their opponents failed to turn up for the game, but Lord Nelson and Pen Nook weren't so lucky and they both tumbled out to narrow defeats.
Lord Nelson gave a good account of themselves and had the unlikely boost of a goal from their keeper Joe Howarth. Danny Goodwin netted their other but it wasn't enough as they
were pipped by a good looking Ecclesfield WMC side.
After a goalless first half, Pen Nook raced into a two goal lead with Rob Daley and Mark Woodcock strikes, but they couldn't hold on to it and their visitors eventually took the tie with a late
winner.
Report week ending Sunday 12 Sept 2004
George take Merit Cup in thriller
The
The first trophy of the season went to last season's Division One champions Woodhouse George when their power in front of goal proved to much for a Stannington Village looking to be only the second side to complete the treble.
Village started brightly and went ahead after just four minutes when Nick Phelan fired home and it only looked a matter of time before they added to it, but just after Simon Howe's head stopped got in the way of one of his team mates' goalbound effort, they were pegged back by a brilliant chip over the keeper by Wes Pierce.
That gave George the belief they were sadly lacking early on and on the half hour it was Pierce again at the back post to stab home Michael Blythen's cross, but their lead lasted little more than five minutes as Simon Howe beat the offside trap to beat the keeper with ease.
It stayed like that until the break, but the second half was less than a minute old when Pierce crossed for Chris Towey to restore George's lead with a powerful header.
George really got on top and it was no surprise when they extended their lead with a brilliant solo goal from the outstanding Michael Blythen and soon after the best move of the game saw the Village tore open and Blythen couldn't miss from Michael Towey's cross.
Village were stunned, but they gave themselves some hope when new signing Jimmy Munday provided a good low finish to Howe's through ball and they poured forward in search of further reward, but it wasn't to be and it was George that collected their first major honour.
It had been a terrific advert for Sunday football, helped enormously by a superb Stocksbridge Park Steels, Bracken Moor pitch and the handling of the game by referee Alan Streets and his assistants Paul Wilson and Simon Hunter.
Minnies stop George in their tracks
Just four days later George found themselves on the receiving end when Minnies exposed their defensive frailties and pipped them in a seven goal thriller.
Shane Toulson gave Minnies an early two goal lead and although Chris Askey pulled one back, Holmes restored their visitors two goal lead before the break.
Michael Towey pulled another back for George early in the second half, but once again it was Minnies that struck through Mick Wall and although Wes Pierce converted a late penalty for the home side, Minnies never looked like losing their lead.
Despite also finding themselves behind to an early Gary Ellis strike, Stannington bounced back in true champion fashion when they scored seven at newly promoted Moorview Ranges to maintain their 100% league record.
Simon Howe hit four of them and Kevin Bly struck his first two goals for the club. David Hague completed the route, as Ranges only had a further Jon Round goal to show for their efforts.
Freedom
fighters storm the Park
Another of the newly promoted clubs Freedom House are making light of life at the top and they are the early leaders after hammering SCS Park 5-0.
After goalless first half, that scoreline looked unlikely, but after the break Freedom, prompted by the superb Wayne Bird, ran riot, with Otis Pike grabbing two, Paul Staniland netting on his debut and Sean's Ward and Flynn adding the others.
A third side to have won both of their opening games is Handsworth Old Boys after they completed a 5-2 victory over an understrength Dronfield Talbot.
For a second week running, their lead came from the unlikely source of Robert Pratt's head and the smallest player on the pitch grabbed a second after Lee Brunt had extended the Old Boys lead.
In between, Steve Adie had pulled one back for Talbot, but they never looked like getting in the game and Chris Taylor soon made it four for the Old Boys. Andrew Tait managed to pull another back for the visitors, but it was Kevin Batty that finished the scoring with the Old Boys' fifth.
Dronfield Town did better than their neighbours when they earned their first point of the season from a goalless draw with Stocksbridge Park Steels 'A'. Neither side really looked like breaking the deadlock, although Mark Barrowclough went nearest for Steels late on.
Leading scorer in the CBC Premier is Hemsworth Villa's Lee Webber after he netted his second hat-trick in as many games in a 4-1 victory over Handsworth WMC.
Handsworth had struck first through Matt Hodgett's header, but Webber's first two put Villa in the driving seat and after Scott Moat added a third, the result was never in doubt. All that was left was for Webber to lob the keeper to complete his treble.
Last season's Division Two champions Woodhouse West End are the early leaders in Division One after making it two wins out of two as Dave Haley, Dale Fuller, Chris Hooper and a superb fourth from Lee Glaves gave them a 4-0 victory over Acorn Academicals.
The two sides that came up behind West End are again chasing them hard after both Crookes Club and Noahs Ark grabbed their first wins of the season with 6-1 victories.
Crookes entertained a St Cecelias that had made a winning start, but, after conceding an early own goal, the Saints were blown away. A Dave Rowe double made it 3-0 by half time and after the break, Paul Jennings' second double in as many weeks with Kevin Haigh's first of the season completed the route. All St Cecelias had to show was a Dean Wainwright goal.
Although Noahs Ark fell behind to an early John Miller strike for Royal Oak Pitsmoor, two Russ Stevens goals gave Ark a narrow half time lead, but it wasn't close in the second half as Ark scored four more through Stevens' third, Lee Sweet, Dave Thornhill and Martin Edwards.
The other promoted club, Telecom Sports didn't make such an impressive start and slipped to a 3-1 home defeat by Redmires. All the goals came in the first half, with Jamie Milnes heading Redmires into the lead and Luke Siggs netting a second with great opportunism to score from a free kick while the Telecom defence were still sorting out a wall.
Dean Mason pulled one back for the home side, but Redmires completed the scoring when James O'Connell crossed for Simon Bradbury to head home.
After relegation from the CBC Premier, Oughtibridge Village will be hoping to make a swift return, but they will have to play much better than they did in their 1-0 victory at a very unlucky Niagara.
The home side made most of the running and all that they lacked was a finish, but they paid dearly in the end as Village pinched it with a late Matt Siddall goal.
In Division Two its the new boys that are leading the way with Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B', Lord Nelson and Loxley all boasting two wins out of two.
Handsworth New Crown were no match for a rampant Stocksbridge side as Warren Barton and Adam Todd doubles gave the home side a four goal lead. Jason Ball pulled one back for Crown from the penalty spot before Luke Birkinshaw added a fifth for Steels.
Despite visitors Jordanthorpe Hotel only having nine men for the first half, all Lord Nelson had to show was a goal from man of the match Dave Constant, but even though Jordanthorpe's missing men made it for the second half and David Gouch found the home side's net, the legs of the others quickly tired and Danny Goodwin and John Dickens added two more for Nelson.
Loxley trailed at half time to New Inn Norton's Alex Yule's fifth of the season and even after they had levelled through Andy Hogg's first for the club, it didn't look good when they had a player dismissed, but Loxley kept plugging away and eventually won it with a brilliant Simon Mirfin free kick.
That was Inn's second defeat in four days after earlier losing 3-2 to Ball Boys. After Matt Parkes goals either side of half time had given Ball a two goal lead, Alex Yule netted a double of his own to bring Inn level, but after Parkes completed his hat-trick with Ball's third, Yule went from hero to villain when he missed a late penalty.
Ball Boys weren't so lucky when they faced Deep End four days later and although Parkes again found the net Ball were on the wrong end of a 5-2 scoreline.
Andy Mitchell grabbed two and Neil Morris, Dale Hurst and Gary Cooper one each for the visitors, while Ball's other consolation came from Gareth Simonds.
After Alistair Thomas had given them a two goal half time lead, Pen Nook went on to open their league account with a very impressive 4-1 victory over Laycock Sports.
Mark Dodds and Mark Woodcock netted Nook's others, but they were also indebted to keeper Steve Marshall who made several vital saves as Laycock's tried to get back in the game. Andy Register did eventually pull one back for Laycock's but it was scant reward for their part in a game that was closer than the scoreline suggests.
It was the same story for the visitors as Lynthorpe Oak got over their ACC Milk Cup defeat with a 4-1 home win over Dynamo Hartshead. Craig Guilfoyle hit a left foot scorcher into the top corner to give Oak the lead just before half time and Steve Fairbank's penalty and one from Ricky Tidy made it three.
Dynamo weren't out of it though and fully deserved Paul Gregory's goal, but Oak's nerves were calmed when Hilton Stratford netted their fourth.
Report week ending Sunday 5 Sept 2004
Freedom show the new boys how its done
Freedom House showed the other CBC Premier new boys how it's done when they scored an impressive 3-0 victory over Dronfield Talbot, while the other three promoted clubs could only pick up a point between them.
Ace marksman Andy Gray gave Freedom a first half lead and in the second half Shaun Flynn and Otis Pike added two more for a fully deserved winning start to life at the top.
Kelly's eye halts George
Woodhouse George was the other newcomer to take a point, but had it not been for a last gasp Chris Kelly penalty they would have taken all three from their visitors Stocksbridge Park Steels 'A'.
George was shocked when the Steelmen raced into a two goal lead thanks to Richard Hurst and an own goal, but Chris Towey Michael Blythen and Michael Towey strikes had George in front by half time.
After the break Jack Jones levelled for Steels, but Michael Towey's second looked to have given the home side a winning start until Kelly's late spot kick.
Newsome gets Champions off to winning start
Dronfield Town's start in the CBC Premier couldn't have been harder as they faced double holders Stannington Village and just to make matters worse former Owls and Leeds ace Jon Newsome was making his debut for Village.
Helped by a David Hague penalty miss, Town kept the first half goalless, but they seemed in awe of their visitors and they paid for it in the second period when Newsome carried the ball from the edge of his own area to the edge of Town's before curling a beauty to give Stannington the lead.
Soon after, Nick Phelan met a corner to double Stannington's lead and it was only then that Town's youngsters began to realise that they could make an impact. They pulled one back through Ian Parks, but couldn't force a second.
Taylor's late strike seals it for Old Boys
Despite Ashleigh Fletcher and Jon Round strikes, Moorview Ranges' return to the top also saw them slip to a narrow defeat at Handsworth Old Boys.
Ranges fell behind when Robert Pratt, the smallest man on the pitch, outjumped their keeper, Fletcher levelled, but they were behind again when Dale Moore was brought down in the area and kevin batty slammed home the spot kick.
Round levelled a second time and at least a point looked on for Ranges, but Chris Taylor showed some of his old sharpness to bag the Old Boys winner with just ten minutes remaining.
Gallagher leads Handsworth's late charge
The Old Boys neighbours, Handsworth WMC, got an even better start as they slammed five past Minnies, but that looked very unlikely just past the hour mark as Minnies were still leading through an early Holmes goal.
Keiron Gallagher turned the game on its head with two in a minute and Minnies knew it wouldn't be their day when Matt Hodgett added a third. Gallagher completed his hat-trick and Paul Webster netted Handsworth's fifth to leave Minnies stunned.
Webber treble rescue's Villa
Another hat-trick came from Hemsworth Villa's Lee Webber, but Villa never needed it more as they found themselves outplayed for long periods by visitors SCS Park.
Ed Colton took advantage of a mistake by Villa's keeper to give SCS the lead and Adam Parker made it two before Webber stabbed home his first. Steve Kidder restored SCS's two goal advantage, but Webber rounded their keeper to narrow the gap and he stole in on the blind side to complete his treble and give his side a 'Get out jail free' card.
Wilson shows who's boss
After a close call with relegation last season, Ian Cooper handed the Acorn Academicals manager's position over to 'keeper Mick Wilson and the change seemed to done both of them good.
Cooper's flick gave Acorn a first half lead and although it was cancelled out by a David Lee own goal, Paul Wright beat the offside trap to put Acorn back in front. Wilson then showed who's boss by saving Martyn Twigger's penalty to ensure his side went home with the points.
Saints off to early flyer
St Cecelias just missed out on promotion last season and they have started this looking determined to make no mistake this time as they romped to a 5-2 victory at Niagara.
Dean Wainwright produced a good finish from Mark Staniland's flick on and David Sutcliffe made it two after a glorious ball from man of the match Andy Fitzmaurice. Fitzmaurice made it three early in the second half, before Simon Nazim and Paul Stancliffe's header put them five in front.
Lee Whitehead and Mark Rushbrook grabbed two late consolations for Niagara and they might have made it a lot closer had they made the most of the early chances that came their way.
Kippax goal enough for West End
Last season's Division Two champions Woodhouse West End made a winning start as a single Dave Kippax goal gave them victory over Redmires. They should have had more, but Redmires' keeper Karl Taylor made two brilliant penalty saves and in the end West End had to hang on.
Last gasp Clarke rescues Oak
Despite falling behind twice newly promoted Crookes Club looked to have taken all three points from a Royal Oak Pitsmoor side freshly relegated from the Premier, but a Lee Clarke goal in the dying seconds meant the sides had to share the points.
Jonathan Clarke and Julian Wood goals twice gave Oak the lead, but one from David Rowe and two from makeshift striker Paul Jennings looked to have given Crookes a winning start until Oak's late, late equaliser.
Newboys make winning start
Three newcomers all made winning starts in Division Two, with two Swift goals helping Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B' to a 4-3 victory over New Inn Norton, Dave Sampson, Matt Bray and John Dickens goals giving Lord Nelson a 3-1 triumph over Deep End, while strikes from John Birley, Scott Parkin and full back Tom Shelton gave Loxley a 3-0 win over Handsworth New Crown.
Jordanthorpe get the cream in ACC Milk Cup
Jordanthorpe Hotel pulled off the shock of the ACC Milk Cup First Round when Scott Wostenhall and Daniel Butterthorpe goals helped them come from behind to oust former champions Laycock Sports.
Lee Revitt was the day's top scorer as his four goals along with two from Ryan Cockayne saw Pen Nook go through with a 6-2 win over Dynamo Hartshead, while a Matt Parkes' treble and two from Adam Ford saw Ball Boys progress 5-2 at Lynthorpe Oak.
Report Monday 30 Aug 2004
NEW SEASON STARTS ON 5 SEPT
It's the start of the new season this weekend when all teams will kick-off full of optimism that they can emulate the achievements of last season's League and Cup double winners, Stannington Village.
Stannington were terrific last season, suffering just two defeats, but they will take nothing for granted when they kick off their new CBC Premier campaign at newly promoted Dronfield Town as their hosts have given them problems in the past and will be full of youthful enthusiasm.
STEVE GEE MERIT CUP FINAL AT BRACKEN
MOOR ON THURSDAY 9 SEPT
It's another of the promoted clubs that could prove to be the biggest threat to Stannington's title in the shape of last season's Division One champions, Woodhouse George and an early indication of how close they will push them comes next Thursday when the two sides meet in the Steve Gee Merit Cup Final at Bracken Moor,
Stocksbridge, kick off at 7.30pm.
They met in the ACC Milk Cup semi finals last season and it was Stannington that came out on top, but George will have learnt a lot from that defeat and this is likely to be a much closer affair.
Before that, George will be confident of a good start to their first ever season in the top flight as they entertain former champions Stocksbridge Park Steels, a side they thrashed in the ACC Milk Cup last season.
The other promoted sides, Freedom House and Moorview Ranges, might find three points much harder to come by against Dronfield Talbot and Handsworth Old Boys. respectively.
Freedom were one of the teams of last season when they combined their Division One runners-up spot with an ACC Milk Cup Final appearance, but Dronfield Talbot finished strongly last season and could well turn out to be title challengers themselves.
Moorview Ranges task looks even harder. They have been in the top flight before so they know what to expect, but they could have done with an easier start than a visit to a Handsworth Old Boys that finished third in the CBC Premier last season.
Just behind the Old Boys were Minnies and they will be looking to build on their progress of last season starting with a home win over one of last season's strugglers, Handsworth WMC.
Division One could well turn out to be the closest, with all of the promoted teams likely to do well along with a St Cecelias that just missed promotion last season and a Redmires that has made some useful additions to its squad.
Redmires could well be involved in one of the games of the day when they visit last season's Division Two winners Woodhouse West End and another game that looks set to be close is Royal Oak Pitsmoor's visit to newly promoted Crookes Club's new home at Green Lane, Ecclesfield.
Another game at Green Lane sees Acorn Academicals visit Civil Service and after both sides struggled last season, this is one game that both will be desperate to win.
Niagara also struggled last season and a visit from a St Cecelias that only just missed out on promotion last season is not the sort of start they would have chosen.
The continuing strength of the League can best be highlighted by the fact that no fewer than eight new teams have joined since last season and they are likely to make Division Two very difficult to assess.
One of the 'newcomers' that we do know quite a bit about is Laycock Sports. They were our League champions when they left just over twelve months ago, but they are back and they start again with a tough ACC Milk Cup tie against another newcomer, Jordanthorpe Hotel.
Two other ACC Milk Cup ties see newcomers in action with Ball Boys travelling to Lynthorpe Oak and Pen Nook entertaining Dynamo Hartshead.
In Division Two, an all-newcomers affair sees Lord Nelson entertain Deep End, while the other two new teams start with home games as Loxley entertain Handsworth New Crown and Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B' entertain New Inn Norton.