Report week ending Sunday 27 Nov 2005
Handsworth stun Stannington, but Crookes win at last
Stannington Village's CBC Premier title challenge suffered a huge setback when a poor first half display eventually led to a 4-2 home defeat by Handsworth WMC, but there was no such setback for Woodhouse West End as a single Damien Blackmore strike took all three points at Redmires. It was also a joy day for Crookes Club as they secured their first victory in the top flight, 3-2 over fellow strugglers Royal Oak
Pitsmoor.
Handsworth WMC were gifted the lead when a mistake by Stannington's keeper gave James Varns the simple
opportunity to put his side ahead and a terrific first half for Handsworth was rounded off with David Cawrey and
Andy Stevens goals in the last four minutes.
If being three down at half time wasn't bad enough for Stannington, just two minutes into the second half they lost their keeper when he handled the ball outside his area, but instead of folding they found a determination that wasn't there before and soon pulled one back through Steve Taylor.
Stannington then continued to take the game to their visitors and when Taylor hit a fully deserved second it looked as if they might take an unlikely point, but it was Handsworth that sealed the points when Stevens hit his second in added time.
Despite having much of the play in the first half, Woodhouse West End couldn't find a breakthrough at Redmires and when Karl Taylor saved Alan Hull's penalty early in the second half, Redmires must have thought it might be their day, but soon after Damien Blackmore struck the only goal of the game to secure all three points for West End.
Crookes Club secured their first CBC Premier victory when they pipped fellow strugglers Royal Oak Pitsmoor 3-2. Kev Haigh and Paul Jennings had Crookes two up by half time and the game looked all over when an own goal put them three up soon after the break. The home side didn't have it all their own way though when Oak hit back through Scott Empsey and an own goal, Crookes were left hanging on for the points.
Laycock Sports maintained their lead at the top of Division Two with a 4-1 home win over Civil Service. Sam Sequerra gave them an early lead and Steve Morris doubled it with a precision free kick. Sequerra added his second and Gary McWilliams had them four up by the interval. Service rallied in the second half and a better display was rewarded by a Martyn Kitridge strike, but they never threatened Laycock's hold on the game.
Pen Nook took second place with an emphatic 5-0 victory over Oxspring United. Mark Woodcock hit two of them while the others came from Craig Thickett, an Ian Cooper own goal and a last minute strike by sub Steve Marshall.
It was the same scoreline as Burgoyne Arms kept their challenge going with victory over Oughtibridge Village. Scott Marcus netted from close range for their first and when he was felled in the area, Ben Shaw stepped up to hit their second from the penalty spot.
Injuries meant that regular keeper Chris Greenwood had to play up front and he showed how effective he could be by slotting in Burgoyne's third. Dale Hirst gabbed their fourth and a second penalty allowed Shaw to net his second spot kick of the game to finish the scoring.
Bagshaw Arms title challenge came off the rails when they were beaten by Telecom Sports in an eleven goal thriller. Although Daniel Mace gave Telecom an early lead, Bagshaw hit back with goals from Richard Dale, James Sullivan and Danny Hanson. Adam Podmore then celebrated his debut for Telecom by pulling one back, but an Alex Yule strike saw Bagshaw go into half time with a two goal lead.
Telecom weren't put off by that and Podmore grabbed two more to put Telecom level, but they were behind again when Hanson hit his second for Bagshaw. The visitors must have thought they would now go home with the points, but Paul Marrison struck to bring Telecom level again and Podmore strcuk again late on to give them an unlikely victory.
Leading scorer Jason Reeves was once again Ecclesfield Travellers superman as his treble in a 5-2 home win over Half Moon helped maintain Travellers lead at the top of Division Two. Dave Wiilkinson and Chris France hit their others, while Moon's replies both came from Chris Critchlow.
Just behind them are Loxley after they survived a scare at home to Hartley House. Ryan Inkles gave House an early lead, but it was cancelled out before half time by Joe Lilleyman's header. Converted full back Scott Parkin then hit his tenth of the season to put Loxley ahead and Geoff Mayfield doubled their lead with a close range header.
Danny Hewitt found the net to put House back into the game, but Loxley's two goal lead was restored by Craig Crownshaw's strike from the edge of the area and it proved just enough after Matt Hewitt hit a third for the visitors.
Woodseats Abbey stepped up their challenge with a more emphatic 4-1 victory over Wadsley Bridge Travellers. Although Adrian Vonwurzbach put Abbey ahead after just five minutes, it was cancelled out on the half hour by a Neil Whitworth's well taken goal, but with the last kick of the first half John Kilcoyne restored Abbey's lead.
Just two minutes into the second half Abbey took control of the game when Jason Ball fired home and Chris Leek added a fourth to make the points safe.
Although Newman netted Tosalisana's first home goals of the season they once again slumped to a heavy defeat as Hollin Bush pushed themselves back into the promotion pack with a 9-2 victory. Lee Sweet hit three, Kyle Kilham and Tom Moyses two each and Dan Cooper and Adam Bliss added Bush's others.
It looked like the division's only unbeaten record might fall when Hilton Stratford's strike after an hour put Lynthorpe Oak ahead at Pitsmoor Hotel, but the home side kept their nerve and two from Thomas Pyecroft and one from Paul Hind in the last fifteen minutes kept Pitsmoor's record in tact.
Capita Hartshead are one of the division's form teams after completing a third successive victory for the first time ever. Cutlers Arms netted through Anthony Sydney, but a Tom Franklin double and one for James Ferris gave Capita a 3-1 victory and it would have been more had Ferris not missed a sitter in front of an open goal.
It was a mixed day in the County FA Cup competitions. While Stockbridge Park Steels 'B' and The Park both made progress in the Junior Cup, Ball Boys went out 3-2 at Jungle of Mexborough and Woodhouse George crashed out of the Senior Cup, 8-2 at holders Hoyland Town Jags.
Glen Chapman and Lee Shepherd were both on target for Stocksbridge, but the real hero of their 6-0 thrashing of Blue Bell was four goal Luke Birkinshaw.
The Park's victory over Cudworth Dards was much closer though and after Scott Micklethwaite's second half goal had been cancelled out, it needed an extra time winner from Ryan Marshall to put The Park through to the last sixteen.
Ball Boys started well at the Jungle when Ryan McGuiness put them ahead early on and even after they found themselves behind, Will Blakeney's goal saw them go into the interval level, but when Jungle scored again in the second half, Ball couldn't find another way through the home side's defence.
Woodhouse George quickly found themselves three down, but hit back through Chris Towey and Michael Blythen to go into the interval just a goal behind, but any thoughts they had of springing a surprise were dashed as Hoyland tore their defence to shreds in the second
half.
Report week ending Sunday 20 Nov 2005
West End progress is Taylor made
COUNTY FA SUNDAY CUP TIES
Although the freezing temperatures put paid to some games last weekend, Woodhouse West End proved far too hot for Bentley Colliery to take a place in the last sixteen of the Sunday Senior Cup. Dronfield Town and Crookes Club couldn't match them though and slipped out, but Woodhouse George will try again next week at Hopyland Town Jags.
In the Sunday Junior Cup, despite going a goal down early on, Ecclesfield Travellers were much too good for Dalton Parva and they were joined in the last sixteen by Burgoyne Arms who just pipped Pitsmoor Arms in the all-Blades Super Draw tie. Ball Boys, Stocksbridge Park Steels and Laycocks will all have to try again next week after being frost caused their games to be postponed.
The springboard for Woodhouse West End's win at Bentley Colliery came right on the stroke of half time when Spencer Taylor pounced to put them ahead. Boosted by that, after the break West End constantly had their hosts on the back foot and it was no surprise when Wayne Fuller's flicked header extended their lead.
West End were now in complete control of the tie and they were rewarded with a third goal from substitute Damien Blackmore's first touch of the game.
Crookes Club fell behind to Fox & Hounds from Shafton in the tenth minute and although that was the only goal of the first half, crookes never really got their game going and three second half goals made it safe for the visitors.
It was a similar story for Dronfield Town at home to Meadowhall Premier side Handsworth Turf Tavern. Town were two down by half time and although Ian Parkes and Ben Kistell both scored in the second half, Turf's lead was never really threatened and they ran out 5-2 winners.
Visitors Dalton Parva took an early lead at Ecclesfield Travellers might have thought it wouldn't be their day when they missed a twice taken penalty, but they began to dominate and Anthony Hutchison hit a deserved equaliser.
After the break it was all Travellers and once Ian Hoyland had headed them in front there was no stopping them. Hutchinson grabbed his second and then leading scorer Jason Reeves hit two more to wrap up a 5-1 victory.
Although Division One Burgoyne Arms were strong favourites to win at Division Two Pitsmoor Hotel it was very much against the run of play when Darren Firth put them ahead, but Pitsmoor kept up the pressure and deservedly levelled before half time when John Senior followed up after Scott Spiers shot came back off the woodwork.
Spiers had better luck in the second half and gave his side the lead, but they missed too many chances to kill off the tie and David Nash levelled for Burgoyne from the edge of the area. Burgoyne were now much more in the game and with just five minutes remaining Gary Cooper fired home to win it for them.
BLADES SUPER DRAW LEAGUE GAMES
The biggest shock in the league came in Division Two where bottom club Tosalisana fought all the way to pick up just their second point of the season from a goalless draw against high flying Cutlers Arms.
Cutlers were wasteful in front of goal, but if anyone deserved to take a point it was the the Tosalisana keeper
Sergi Tomas who left the visitors shaking their heads in disbelief with a string of breath taking saves.
Hartley House started the day in second place, but after losing to Woodseats Abbey for a second time in eight days, they found themselves overtaken by Abbey and Loxley.
Two Adrian Vonwurzbach goals for Abbey and Craig Senior and Ryan Inkles goals for Hartley House looked like the sides would share the points, but Abbey grabbed all three with a late strike by Chris Garlick.
Loxley, with four goals from winger Scott Parkin, had a much more comfortable 5-2 victory at Wadsley Bridge Travellers. Parkin got onto the end of a through ball to put Loxley ahead early on and although they were pegged back when a quick break saw John Williams level for the home side, they were back in front before half time when Parkin headed his second.
Carl Wells struck one into the bottom corner before Parkin completed his hat-trick and although Williams netted his second for Travellers, Parkin had the final say with his side's fifth and it would have been mnore had Tom Shelton not missed from the penalty spot.
Another side getting into the promotion pack is Half Moon after they picked up their first away points of the season with a 3-1 victory at Lynthorpe Oak.
Oak had won their previous two games and they looked on for a third when Craig Guilfoyle hit a real screamer from thirty five yards, but Moon had other ideas and levelled through Chris Critchlow before taking the points with goals from Mark Ramsden and Jason Barrass.
Two wins in succession is a rareity for Capita Hartshead, but helped by a Jim Linfoot treble they did just that at Hollin Bush. Paul Gregory and Dave Buchanan scored two more as Capita ran out 5-2 winners while Bush's goals came from Lee Sweet and Kyle Kilham.
In Division One, Yule-tide came early for Bagshaw Arms as Alex Yule netted twice to help them to a 6-1 victory over a weakened Civil Service. Richard Dale put Bagshaw ahead from the penalty spot before Yule hit his first and although Jason Eaton caught the home keeper out with a quickly taken free kick, Yule regained the home side's two goal lead before the break. Oliver Wilson slid a fourth in early in the second half before Simon Warren and Lee Connor completed the rout.
Niagara went to Lord Nelson hoping to revive their promotion challenge, but soon found themselves behind to an Andy West strike. Ricky Parfisson managed to level for Niagara, but his good work was undone when a mistake by the keeper allowed Brian Maguire to put Nelson back in front and a great strike from danny Wilkinson made it safe for the home side.
The CBC Premier's only game saw Hemsworth Villa climb back up to second with a 4-1 victory over Redmires, but the game had been much closer than the scoreline suggests.
It took a rare goal from central defender Ben Dronfield to give Villa the lead and they extended it with an Ian Holmes strike, but Redmires kept plugging away and they got back into it when dale White volleyed his second in as many weeks.
It really was end-to-end at this stage, but it was Holmes that struck again to give Villa more breathing space and in the final minute a precise through ball by Craig Scholey allowed Scott Moat to hit Villa's
fourth.
Report week ending Sunday 13 Nov 2005
Villa on the march again
In the delayed League Cup ties, holders Hemsworth Villa look firmly on the march to Bramall Lane again after thrashing fellow CBC Premier Crookes Club in the second round of the Milk Cup and other CBC Premier clubs joining them in the next round are Redmires and Stocksbridge Park Steels 'A'.
In two all-Division One ties, John Sullivan goals in each half proved to be just enough for Bagshaw Arms to beat arch rivals Jordanthorpe Hotel and two Russell White goals helped Civil Service to victory over Oughtibridge Village, while the all-Division Two tie saw Ball Boys overcome Cutlers Arms.
Only a single Lee Webber goal seperated Hemsworth Villa from Crookes Club at half time, but after Webber netted his second soon after the break, Crookes had no answer to the holders.
Ian Holmes beat three players before slotting home his side's third and a similar run ended with Scott Moat having a simple tap-in for Villa's fourth before Cole Hattersley completed the scoring with a terrific free kick.
Former holders Socksbridge Park Steels 'A' got a rude awakening when Liam Stocks gave their Division Two visitors, Pitsmoor Hotel, a shock lead, but a trademark Adrian Tazziman free kick equalised to settle the CBC Premier side's nerves.
Mark Garrett and Matt Sewell strikes saw Steels go into half time with a 3-1 lead and although Pitsmoor gave a good account of themselves, a second for Garrett after the break wrapped up the scoring.
An injury to Redmires John Cotterill caused an half hour delay during the first half of their tie with Telecom Sports and Redmires struggled to find any fluency to their play until ten minutes into the second half when Luke Siggs round the keeper to put them ahead.
Division One Telecom gave them a few scares, but any thoughts of a shock were soon dashed when Ian Gambling hit Redmires second and the tie was well and truly over after Dale White added their third.
The first of the all-Division One ties saw Bagshaw Arms take the lead against local rivals Jordanthorpe Hotel midway through the first half when James Sullivan slotted the ball home and Sullivan was again on hand to score his side's second soon after the break. Jordanthorpe never gave up though and when Lee Sargent netted with ten minutes remaining it set up a tense finish, but Bagshaw held on.
The other all-Division One tie saw two Russell White strikes and one from Wayne Stacey give Civil Sevice victory over an Oughtibridge Village than could only manage a single reply from Dave Hudson.
Chris Hull gave Ball Boys a first half lead in their all-Division Two tie with Cutlers Arms and Ball wrapped up their victory with a second half Will Blakeney strike.
After the previous weekend's shock cup defeat, Woodhouse George set about retaining their CBC Premier title by hammering Handsworth WMC 7-1. Wes Pierce, Michael Blythen and Mark Coggin all grabbed doubles and Spencer Starkie hit their seventh, while Handsworth's lone strike came from Dean Brown.
Up to second are Stannington Village, but only just after the narrowest of wins in a seven goal thriller with Royal Oak
Pitsmoor. Ben Palmer gave Village the lead only to see it cancelled out by a thirty yard Scott Empsey rocket into the top corner.
Village then appeared to take control with two Michael Barnes strikes, but Oak hit back with a John Mellor penalty. Steve Taylor regained Village's two goal lead, but a second penalty by Mellor set their nerves jangling and when Oak were awarded a thrid penalty in the final minute it looked as if the sides would share the spoils. It was a case of third time unlucky for Mellor though as his third spot kick struck a post and Village held on for all three points.
Dronfield Town slipped down the table with a 4-1 defeat at a Woodhouse West End beginning to gather some momentum. Dave Kippax netted for a fifth successive game to give West End the lead and Dale Fuller and James Walters strikes extended that lead before John Perkins headed one back for Town.
That was as good as it got for Town though and Spencer Taylor showed his class with a terrific solo goal to wrap up the scoring and the points for West End.
Veteran Andy Register was on target twice to give Division One leaders Laycock Sports a two goal half time lead over Oxspring United and Gary McWilliams added two more in the second half before Matt Haslam scored a spectacular consolation for
Oxspring.
Hot on Laycock's heels are Burgoyne Arms after recovering from successive defeats by winning 4-2 at Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B'. An own goal gave Arms a first half lead, but after the break that was quickly extended when Darren Firth turned two defenders before firing home.
When John Dixon volleyed a third the contest looked over, but two Shepherd goals brought Steels right back into it, but they took one risk too many in search of the equaliser and Dale Hurst fired Burgoyne's clincher into an unguarded net.
Up to third are Pen Nook after they came from behind to also win 4-2 at Niagara. After Dan Lewis had given Nook an early lead, an own goal levelled the scores before Andy Lee put Niagara ahead, but Nook were back on level terms before the break when John Ward netted. Ward's second put Nook ahead for a second time and Scott Crosby's first goal for the club sealed the three points.
Things are tightening up in Division Two after leaders Ecclesfield Travellers were held by Wadsley Bridge Travellers, while second place Hartley House slipped to defeat at Woodseats Abbey, as did fourth place Loxley, at home to a resurgent Lynthorpe Oak.
Jason Eaves twice gave Ecclesfield the lead but two John Williams goals gave Wadsley Bridge a deserved share of the spoils, but Hartley House came even closer to victory before leaving Woodseats Abbey empty handed.
Two Martin Claridge strikes and one from Craig Senior gave House a 3-1 lead, but Sal Fawzi and Mark Richards added further goals to Adrian Vonwurzbach's opener to bring Abbey level and they took all three points when Fawzi hammered home his second with just two minutes remaining.
Senior nearly grabbed a point for House with the last kick of the game, but it had been a terrific advert for Division Two and stand-in referee Mr Roberts had done a terrific job to keep the game flowing.
Loxley knew it wouldn't be their day when they found themselves two behind in the first fifteen minutes. Hilton Stratford and Steve Fairbank had done the early damage for Lynthorpe Oak and when Lee Wallace added a third before half time the game looked all over.
Strong words in the Loxley half time team talk, brought it's reward when Tom Shelton and Scott Parkin pulled two back, but good defending a second goal from Stratford made sure the points went Oak's way.
The day's biggest score came from the battle of the bottom two, with Capita Hartshead hitting ten past bottom club
Tosalisana. It took them half an hour to break the deadlock though, but after that the floodgates opened.
John Rhodes hit four, Ian Franklin three, and Jim Linfoot's double included a terrific header into the bottom corner. Paul Gregory hit Capita's other, while Tosalisana grabbed some consolation with Nabjo Mboukayi's smart finish.
Report week ending Sunday 6 Nov 2005
Danny Hoop-sets George in West End Show
Although the second round of the League's Milk Cup saw Division Two Lynthorpe Oak and Woodseats Abbey both beat Division One teams, the almighty upset came in the Woodhouse derby as a Danny Hooper treble helped West End put out Woodhouse George in a nine goal thriller that had just about everything.
George went into the game as firm cup favourites after winning every game so far this season, including a 5-1 drubbing of their fiercest rivals Woodhouse West End, but their previous eight meetings had all gone West End's way and that's how it was to eventually prove yet again.
Hooper drove West End into an early lead, but two Michael Blythen strikes had George in front by the interval and when Shaun Waller made it three early in the second half it looked as West End's attempt on a second successive appearance at Bramall Lane would quickly die.
They have great determination though and Hooper's second gave them hope and it really was game on when he completed his hat-trick by heading home the equaliser. George hit back and regained the lead through Wes Pierce, but slack marking allowed Dave Kippax to head West End level yet again.
The game could have gone either way at this stage, but late on David Haley was brought down in the box and West End had the chance to go through. At first, George breathed a sigh of relief when their keeper saved the spot kick, but their hopes were quickly dashed when referee Mr Marsh ruled that the keeper had come off his line too early and the kick had to be re-taken. This time Alan Hull stepped up to make no mistake and win the bragging rights for West End yet again.
Just as big an upset nearly came at Lord Nelson where the Division One side were entertaining CBC Premier Dronfield Town. Brian Maguire put Nelson ahead only to see Adam Fordham cancel it out, but when Maguire struck again it looked as if it was going to be enough to put his side through.
Town looked down and out, but with virtually the last kick of normal time, sub Richie Marples grabbed an equaliser to take the game into extra time. The tie swung Town's way when Fordham grabbed his second of the game, but Nelson showed real spirit and deservedly levelled through Liam Eckhardt to force a penalty shoot-out.
All the first nine spot kicks gave the keeper no chance, but the final one before sudden death saw the Town keeper stop Dave Thompson's effort and Town scraped through.
Handsworth WMC were another CBC Premier side to be taken to extra time and they must have thought they were going out when an own goal and one each from Mark Ramsden and Nathan Kingswood gave their Division Two visitors Half Moon a three goal advantage inside the first eighteen minutes.
Dean Brown started the Handsworth recovery towards the end of the first half and Eddie Holmes continued it fifteen minutes into the second half. David Cawrey levelled to take the tie into extra time. Moon began to run out of steam and second goals for Brown and Cawrey put the home side in control before man-of-the-match Robert Pratt sealed it with Handsworth's sixth.
Royal Oak Pitsmoor had no such dramas though as a John Mellor treble and a John Clarke volley saw of Division One frontrunners Burgoyne Arms 4-1. Oak dominated from start to finish and Darren Firth's late goal for them was little consolation.
The only ties to see teams beat opponents from a higher division came as Division Two Lynthorpe Oak and Woodseats Abbey both overcame Division One sides. A terrific defensive display was the key to Lynthorpe's victory over Stocksbridge Park Steels 'B' as it made sure that Richard Tidy's sweeping header from a precision free kick in the tenth minute was the game's only goal.
Woodseats Abbey had to thank a Vonderful treble from Adrian Vonwurzbach to give them victory at former finalists Oxspring United. A Dan Donovan penalty and one from Alan Crofts gave the home side hope they could get on the cup trail again, but they weren't quite enough this time.
Stannington Village are now arguably the new cup favourites after the winners of just two seasons ago thrashed fellow CBC Premier side The Park 8-3. Colton, Hill and Bridges were on target for the home side, but they were blown away as Simon Howe with three, doubles from Shane Toulson and Ben Palmer and an own goal gave Village an easy victory.
They weren't the day's highest scorers though as Ecclesfield Travellers hit nine in their all-Division Two clash with local rivals Hartley House. Not for the first time, Craig Senior's treble for House was all in vain as Jason Reeves with four, Scott Johnson two, one each from Kevin Wraith and Chris Brown and an own goal saw a rampant Travellers go through.
Laycock Sports came through their all-Division One clash at Pen Nook, but only just. Gary Mc Williams hit the opener for Laycock's only for Ryan Cockayne to cancel it out before half time and after the break it quickly got better for the home side when John Ward got onto the end of a through ball and Mark Dobbs volleyed a corner home to put them 3-1 ahead.
Laycock's didn't panic though and Craig Kipling hit an exceedingly good goal to reduce the arrears before Steve Morris levelled. Driven on by the superb Simon Bartles, they then took control to seal their place in the next round with a Gary Ellis strike and a second from McWilliams.
The only league games were in Division Two where both Loxley and Hollin Bush put themselves back into the promotion chase with away wins.
Doubles from Tom Moyses and Lee Sweet together with singles from Michael Simpson and Alex Hughes for Hollin Bush were too much for the double Richard Whiteley netted Wadsley Bridge Travellers, but Loxley's 5-2 victory at Capita Hartshead was closes than the scoreline suggests.
Mick Smith cut in from the wing to blast Loxley ahead, but John Rhodes levelled for Capita before the break and in the second half he netted a second from the penalty spot, but after John Denton had headed a second for Loxley and Craig Crownshaw had taken advantage of a goalkeeping error for their third, Rhodes went from hero to villain by putting through his own goal. Loxley's Joe Lilleyman wrapped up the scoring with a late header.