Thursday 29 Mar 2007
CBC Premier - Villa get flying start, but then lose out to Village people
Hemsworth Villa's hopes of the runners-up spot took a blow as Stannington Village completed the double over them. Villa got a flying start when Steve Bridges cross was put away by Keith Cronin with less than ten seconds on the clock and they held it fairly comfortably until stand-in keeper Andy Clixby lost his footing and saw a harmless looking punt forward by John Hemmingham bounce over his head.
Early in the second half Stannington took the lead when Robin Elliott played a one-two with Josh Wright before finishing in style, but Villa hit back strongly and deservedly equalised when Mark Hopkinson produced a deft chip over the keeper. Villa knew they had to win and piled men forward, but instead of getting the winner they were hit on the break and David Hague scored at the back post. Villa later hit the bar and forced several corners, but couldn't get the goal they wanted.
Division Two - Edwards double lifts Cutlers to within a point of the leaders
Cutlers Arms knew that nothing less than victory over Sportsman Stannington would do, but it took them thirty minutes to break the deadlock when Peter Hill found the net. Alex Temperell wasted a great chance to double their lead just before the break when he missed from the penalty spot, but the second half saw Cutlers take control with two Chris Edwards goals and although Mark Gregory netted for Sportsman they never threatened to deny Cutlers.
Tuesday 27 Mar 2007
CBC Premier - Mark sees off old mates as Nook nick Bracken Moor derby
Mark Barraclough scored two first half goals to give Pen Nook victory in their floodlit derby at Stocksbridge Park Steels. He hit a great strike early in the game to nudge Nook in front and after both sides squandered chances he netted his second on the half hour mark. Just ten minutes into the second half, Adrian Tazziman netted a twice taken penalty to bring Steels back into it and after that Nook keeper Steve Marsh had to make a couple of saves to keep his side in front. The Steels keeper also had to make two saves to stop Barraclough completing a hat-trick and Nook held on to keep their survival hopes alive and keep Steels sweating.
Sunday 25 Mar 2007
CBC Premier - West End widen gap at top, but it's getting hot down below
While CBC Premier leaders Woodhouse West End collected the three expected points at bottom club Pen Nook, the two sides just below them both dropped points, but the struggle to avoid the drop is still as intense after a Danny Milner treble inspired Laycock Sports to victory over fellow strugglers Lord Nelson and Handsworth WMC stopped their slide with victory over champions Woodhouse George and there are just four points separating five clubs.
Former champions Laycock Sports knew they had to beat fellow strugglers Lord Nelson and they got the perfect start when Steve Morris produced one of his trademark chips over the keeper to open the scoring and Danny Milner's solo run soon made it two. Milner's left foot then hit his second before Nelson's Matt Bray pulled one back from the penalty spot.
A second from Morris restored Laycock's three goal lead before the break and soon after the break John Kilcoyne netted their fifth. Veteran Mick Plumtree netted their sixth before Milner completed his hat-trick, making Dave Thompson's late strike for Nelson little consolation for them.
Handsworth WMC's run of one point from their last fifteen had seen them slide dangerously close to the drop zone and after both Robert Pratt and Ryan Taylor had both gone close it looked like it was going to be another bad day when Paul Robertson gave Woodhouse George a half time lead.
Handsworth didn't panic though and the second half saw Pratt flick a header past the George keeper to level and when Pratt and Taylor combined to work the opening, Dean Brown netted Handsworth's winner with a diving header.
Despite Mark Barraclough giving them an early lead, Pen Nook's time in the top flight looks as if it will last just one season though after they crashed to a heavy defeat by champions elect Woodhouse West End. Sam Glaves soon levelled for West End before Dale Fuller put them ahead, only for Nook to hit back and level through Christian Newton.
Ashley Atkins had West End back in front before the break and when Fuller netted his second early in the second half, Nook's resolve was broken. Lee Glaves netted West End's fifth and Fuller completed his hat trick before Rob Cowlishaw hit their seventh and he was denied an eighth from the penalty spot by a good save by the keeper.
Redmires had emerged as the last real threat to West End's title ambitions, but they slipped further behind when a ten man Stannington Village shared eight goals with them. Robin Elliott put Village ahead only to see Luke Siggs header send the teams in level at the break. early in the second half Stannington were reduced to ten men when former Redmires man Craig Gambling handled Andy Birks's goalbound shot and to make matters worse Birks netted the resulting penalty.
If Redmires thought it was now going to be easy they were in for a shock and Simon Howe soon had Stannington level. Even when Siggs put Redmires back in front another former Redmires man, Simon Bradbury, again brought Stannington level. When Danny Lindley again put Redmires in front it looked as if the points would be
their's, but a hotly disputed penalty for handball saw David Hague give Stannington a point they thoroughly deserved.
Hemsworth Villa closed up on Redmires with a comfortable victory over The Park. Scott Moat provided the pass for Jimmy Hughes to give Villa a half time lead and in the second half Hughes turned provider for Mark Hopkinson to double Villa's lead. Lee Rodgers set Tom Crosby up to tap in Villa's third and leave The Park out of the relegation places on goal difference only.
Stocksbridge Park Steels survival hopes look slightly better after they came away from Niagara with a point and they have games in hand on the teams around them. It might have been even better for Steels after Richard Gill gave them a first half lead, but they couldn't hold on to it and when Lee Whitehead flicked on a corner, Tom Staniforth scrambled home Niagara's equaliser.
Division
One - Top three all
drop points, but Travellers, Mosborough and Fletchers all win
The battle at the top of Division One became even tighter after leaders Telecom Sports were held to a surprise goalless draw by Woodseats Abbey and Oxspring United also drew at home to Pitsmoor Hotel. The only winner in the top five was Ecclesfield Travellers, who ended second place Royal Oak Pitsmoor's unbeaten away record.
Telecom Sports were strong favourites at a Woodseats Abbey side that hadn't won a game since November, but they found Abbey's keeper Dave Campbell in unbeatable form and despite having large slices of the game, Telecom had to settle for just a point.
Steve Bethell and Phil Cookson goals twice had Oxspring Lowood ahead at home to Pitsmoor Hotel, but first Tommy Fowler and then Gavin Davies netted to give the visitors a share of the spoils.
Royal Oak Pitsmoor went to fellow title challengers Ecclesfield Travellers with an unbeaten away record, but Travellers showed their title intentions to end it with a deserved 4-2 victory. Danny Touhey set Craig Senior up to give Travellers the lead and Senior returned the favour for Touhey to double their lead. John Mellor pulled one back for Oak before the break, but there was no stopping Travellers after the break and Senior's second followed by Jamie Grayson's volley put the game beyond Oak before Mellor hit their second.
Coming up fast is Mosborough Royal Oak after they came from two down to claim three points at fellow League Cup semi finalists Loxley. After a goalless first half, headers by John Denton and Mick Smith looked to ended Loxley's poor run, but Steve Wilkinson pulled one back before he levelled from the penalty spot. Ricky Gregory quickly put Oak in front and they sealed the win when Ben Fowler capped his man of the match performance with their fourth.
Fletchers kept their slim promotion hopes alive with victory at an Oughtibridge Village that is now certain of a bottom two finish. Darren Firth's opener and Mark Tyler's looping header gave Fletchers a two goal half time lead and when Gary Cooper created the opening for Firth to hit his second it looked like Fletchers would be on their way to a big win, but Oughtibridge at last found some resolve and late goals by Mick Colridge and Pete Wells left Fletchers hanging on.
Division
Two - Old Boys
narrow gap and Millhouses slam The Giants, but Fairbank's promotion hopes
are am-Bushed
Handsworth Old Boys narrowed the gap behind Park & Arbour LFS to just two points with a narrow win at Civil Service and Millhouses Abacrombie boosted their promotion bid with a big win over Lisano Giants, but Fairbank-Rhodes automatic promotion bid is over after being held by Hollin Bush.
Civil Service looked the more likely to score in the early stages, but in their first real attack, Handsworth Old Boys took the lead when Dan Leesley turned in the area to slightly mishit a shot that deceived the keeper before finding the net. The Old Boys were now having the lion's share of the game, but they were stunned when Jake Ford beat their offside trap to lob over the advancing keeper to level.
It didn't take the Old Boys long to get back in front though when Trevor Jones cut into the penalty area before hitting a low shot past the keeper. The second half saw the Old Boys again have the majority of possession, but Richard Hodgson and Andy Higgins at the heart of the Service defence limited their opportunities and it was the Old Boys keeper Craig Short that kept his side in front with a brilliant save from an Alan Pickard shot that looked destined for the top corner.
Lisano Giants goals against went past the one hundred mark as Millhouses Abacrombie kept their promotion hopes alive with an 8-1 victory. Paul Armitage, an own goal and an Adam Sturch strike quickly had the game won for Millhouses allowing keeper Mark Davies the luxury of scoring with a penalty to make it four. Armitage netted a fifth before Ali Keita netted his eighth of the season for The Giants. Olly Humphreys, Tom Gardiner an another own goal added three more for Millhouses in the second half and with a game in hand on the clubs above them, they could yet grab a promotion place.
Fairbank-Rhodes now know they will finish outside the top three after they could only draw at Hollin Bush. Joe Knight gave them the lead, but Steve Stenton brought Bush level before half time and neither side looked like winning it in the second half.
Sunday 18 Mar 2007
CBC Premier - West End win again, but Redmires stay in touch, while The Park and Lord Nelson make late bids for survival
Although Woodhouse West End and Redmires both gained important victories at the top of the table, it was wins by Lord Nelson and The Park that were perhaps the most vital of the weekend as they bid to retain their CBC Premier status.
Lord Nelson faced fellow strugglers Pen Nook for a game both knew they had to win and it was Nook that looked more likely early and had one effort disallowed. They also had a Mark Barraclough shot that looked as if it had gone in when it came down off the bar, but the ref ruled it hadn't crossed the line and Nelson breathed a sigh of relief. Nelson then took advantage of their good fortune with Dan Williams giving them the lead and Scott Middleton added a second to make the points safe.
The Park faced local rivals Stannington Village and after Joe Barker had had a goal disallowed The Park went behind when Ben Palmer scored his twelfth goal of the season for Village. The Park hit back strongly though and equalised through Ben Lee and took the lead when Barker got onto the end of a Lee Bridges cross.
The second half saw Bridges get onto the end of a long ball to extend The Park's lead and he clinched the points with his second soon after. David Hague pulled one back for Village, but two Jamie Hill saves made sure they didn't threaten The Park's lead.
Despite David Cawrey giving them a first half lead, Handsworth WMC's slide into the relegation struggle continued with a 3-1 defeat at leaders Woodhouse West End. Both Ryan Taylor and Robert Pratt went close to getting another, but they lost Pratt to injury and West End began to show why they are the title favourites.
Emergency keeper Danny Franklin was producing a man of the match performance for Handsworth, but even he couldn't stop Dave Kippax levelling for West End. Lee Glaves then put West End in front and Anthony Dolan hit a third to push West End eight points clear at the top and leave Handsworth level on points with the last relegation place.
Another of the strugglers to fall was Laycock Sports who lost to a Redmires that climbed to second in the table. Danny Lindley's wind assisted corner gave Redmires the lead only to see Danny Milner level. Lindley restored Redmires lead from outside the box, but just before the break Milner again cancelled it out.
After Luke Siggs had pounced to put Redmires back in front soon after the break, Laycock's levelled for a third time through Chris Gill, but after falling behind again when James O'Connell netted Laycock's couldn't find a reply and Redmires clinched the points when Wayne Beggs crossed for Andy Birks to score.
Division One - Telecom beat Oxspring to go top
The big game in Division One saw Telecom Sports take top spot off Oxspring Lowood by beating them 2-1. Lee Johnstone's free kick and Richard Ford's diving header gave Telecom a two goal half time lead and although they had to withstand lots of pressure during the second half, Oxspring could only pull one of them back through Steve Bethell's header.
Up to second are Royal Oak Pitsmoor after they produced their best form for weeks to beat Woodseats Abbey 4-0. John Mellor hit his twenty fourth goal of the season and it was followed by others from Anthony Rodgers, Darren Antcliffe and Craig Jones.
Pitsmoor Hotel put themselves right back into the promotion race with a 5-1 win over an Oughtibridge Village that could now be just one further defeat from relegation. Luke Parwana gave Pitsmoor a first half lead and Layne Wisdom was on target after the break, but Gavin Davies stole the show with a second half hat-trick before Danny Hill hit Oughtibridge's consolation.
Mosborough Royal Oak lost ground though as they were held by a Fletchers that has now drawn six of it's last seven games. It could have been worse for Oak though as Fletchers raced into a three goal lead. Gary Cooper headed Simon Marcus's corner home in the first half and after the break Scott Lees met Richard Jones' cross to make it two and almost straight away Mark Tyler beat two defenders before hitting Fletchers third.
Oak hit back when Will Blakeney turned before firing home and Ben Prior put them right back in it with Oak's second. Steven Wilkinson then levelled from the edge of the area and they almost won it when Craig Woolley twice struck the woodwork, but in the end they had to settle for a point.
Division Two - Park pip Cutlers , and Old Boys and Sportsman have narrow wins
Division Two leaders Park & Arbour LFS took a big step towards the title when a single
Darren Knowles strike gave them victory at second place Cutlers Arms. It was the home side that pressed first, but it was Park that made the breakthrough when the ex-Hartlepool United midfielder showed his class to score his thirteenth goal of the season.
Cutlers had plenty of the game after that, but some solid defending and some good goalkeeping by Steven Whitehead made sure that Park held on to their lead and had it not been for an extraordinary miss by Craig Graham they would have won by more.
Third place Handsworth Old Boys looked to on their way to a shock defeat against bottom side Lisano Giants, but they somehow recovered their composure to win a real seven goal thriller. The Old Boys had hit twelve past a beleaguered Giants defence just the week before, but they were given a real game this time as an Ali Keita double and one from his brother Mohammed Keita edged the Giants in front, but it was goals from Josh Coulson, Dean Smith, Joe Barrett and Sam Plant that eventually gave the Old Boys the points.
It was a similar story for Sportsman Stannington who were also given a much harder time by Civil Service before completing an eight day double. Civil Sevice were unable to take advantage of the strong wind at their backs in the first half and in the second half found themselves behind when a wind assisted free kick by Liam Bamforth found the net. Robert Jerisson quickly doubled it, but Service hit back through man of the match Jake Ford and with a bit of luck might have taken a point.
Sunday 11 Mar 2007
CBC Premier - West End set to keep the title show in Woodhouse
Although Woodhouse George are unlikely to land a third consecutive CBC Premier title it looks as if it will stay in Woodhouse after Woodhouse West End completed the double over their fiercest rivals and George are now under pressure to land the runners-up spot after Redmires went level on points with them after their victory over Stocksbridge Park Steels. At the other end of the table Laycock Sports, The Park and Handsworth WMC all gained a point in their battle to stay up.
West End went into the Woodhouse derby knowing that victory would see them put one hand on their first League title and they tore into George right from the off. Their rip-roaring start was rewarded when Dave Kippax acrobatically put them ahead. It was quickly follwed by a second from skipper Dale Fuller and a third from Ashley Atkinson. When leading scorer James Walters added a fourth before half time the game was as good as over and although Paul Robertson pulled one back for George in the second half, they never looked like getting back in a game superbly refereed by Kevin Bridges.
Redmires hopes of taking the runners-up spot looked like they could be damaged when Adam Todd gave Stocksbridge Park Steels a half time lead, but Shaun
Downing levelled for Redmires just after the break and Des Pike steamed in to convert Ian Gambling's free kick to win it for them and put them level on points with George.
That result was a blow for Steels survival hopes as three of the teams below them all picked up a valuable point. Steve Morris and Danny Milner goals twice gave Laycock Spports the lead at Stannington Village, but Simon Bradbury followed up David Hague's shot to equalise the first and when Morris handled in the area, Hague levelled the second from the penalty spot.
In a goalless first half Handsworth WMC's man of the match Ryan Taylor had come closest to breaking the dealock at relegation rivals The Park and both David Cawrey and Paul Roper also wasted chances, so it was slightly against the run of play when Thomas Farrell gave The Park a second half lead after the Handsworth keeper had dropped the ball at his feet. Handsworth fought back though and Roper played Robert Pratt in for their equaliser and only a terrific goal line clearance by James Stevens stopped Pratt winning it for the visitors.
Hemsworth Villa's chances of landing the runners-up spot took a blow when Niagara gained revenge for their defeat by Villa just a week earlier. Liam Pigott gave Niagara a first half lead and Simon Staniforth celebrated his return to the side with a second half clincher.
Division
One - Telecom pip
Travellers as Oxspring are held
With the leaders Oxspring Lowood being held to a goalless draw by Fletchers, Telecom Sports low look to be favourites for the Division One title after their victory over Ecclesfield Travellers in a nine goal thriller, although coming up fast on the rails is Mosborough Royal Oak who hit Oughtibridge Village for six.
Fletchers were already known as the draw specialists and their game plan at Oxspring Lowood seemed to work a treat as the home side could not break them down and if anything it was Fletchers that looked the more likely to score. As it was neither side could break the deadlock and Fletchers made it five draws in their last six games and Oxspring saw their lead cut to just two points.
Both Telecom Sports and Ecclesfield Travellers knew their clash was going to be important and Travellers drew first blood when Anthony Hutchinson put them ahead from the penalty spot. Soon after Paul Bashforth saw his header go into the net off the woodwork to double their lead, but Adam Podmore headed one back for the home side. Craig Senior then netted to restore Travellers two goal lead, but once again Podmore was on hand to score with a left foot volley.
The defining moment of the game came when referee Colin Brown, who was helping to make this a terrific game, had no option but to dismiss Hutchinson for his handball on the goal line and although keeper Andy Woodward made a terrific save from the resulting penalty, the ten men knew they would be up against it in the second half.
Telecom levelled when leading scorer Paul Marrison hit a wonder strike from the edge of the area and they took the lead as Lee Johnstone hit another just as good. They then opened up a two goal gap when Simon Smith headed home and it was needed as Travellers produced a grandstand finish after Senior netted his second of the game.
Royal Oak Pitsmoor are back into third after one from Andy Jones and two from John Mellor gave them a 3-1 win at Half Moon and not too far behind them is Pitsmoor Hotel after they effectively killed off Loxley's title hopes. Gavin Davies's acrobatic scissors kick gave Pitsmoor the lead only to see John Bailey get onto the end of Simon Mirfin's free kick to bring Loxley level by half time. Loxley then went on to create and miss a umber of chances and they paid the price when Pitsmoor's veteran sub Kevin Miller settled the game their way.
The biggest danger to the top four though now looks to be Mosborough Royal Oak after they climbed the table with a 6-0 victory over Oughtibridge Village. Ben Healey opened the scoring when his corner flew straight into the net and Joe France made it two before the break. Ricky Davidson kept his hot streak going with the third and sub Lee Godwin hit a fourth. Healey then repeated his feat from a corner to make it five and Godwin grabbed his second to complete the rout.
Division
Two - Top three all
win and Sportsman move into contention
The top three in Division Two look as if they are set to pull away from the rest after they all won, but the day was marred when Millhouses Abacrombie's game with Fairbank Rhodes was abandoned after Millhouses's Joe Keating suffered a double break to his leg.
Park & Arbour LFS maintained their lead at the top with a 4-1 triumph at Colley Club. Craig Graham twice set Danny Adkins up to give Park a two goal lead, but Colley grabbed a lifeline when Steve Whitworth pulled one back from the penalty spot. The rope was soon pulled away from them though as Lee South set Darren Knowles up for Park's third and Kieran Surgeon netted his first for them to complete the scoring.
Cutlers Arms were made to work hard for their victory at Hollin Bush in another game that brought praise for the referee, Nick Mason. There was even an element of good fortune when Cutlers did breakthrough as Mark Franklin's corner flew straight into the net, but there was no luck about Anthony Lewis-Sydney's second to settle the game.
Handsworth Old Boys gave their goal difference a much needed boost at the expense of bottom club Lisano Giants. Steven Smith was the main stone to hit the Giants with five for the Old Boys, while Greg Ward and Joe Barrett both grabbed a brace and singles from Ashley Cross, Josh Coulson and Ty Boulder made it a round dozen. Ali Keita hit Lisano's only reply.
Sportsman Stannington's outside promotion hopes looked to be going up in smoke when Martyn Kitteridge and Simon Hall's free kick gave Civil Service a two goal lead, but Sportsman hit back and three from Matt Jessermino gave them the lead. Phil Jackson then made two vital saves to keep it before Kev Bly, Chris King and Jason Collier hit three more for Sportsman.
Sunday 4 Mar 2007
CBC Premier - Home sweet home at last for Nook, but Laycocks also win
The
CBC Premier relegation struggle is reaching boiling point after former
champions Laycock Sports ended their poor spell with victory at a
Handsworth WMC and it was home sweet home at long last for the bottom club
Pen Nook as they finally clinched their first home win of the season
against relegation rivals The Park to leave just five points separating
the bottom six clubs.
Laycock Sports recent run of defeats had seen them slide into the bottom
three so they knew it was vital to stop the rot at a Handsworth WMC that
have now well and truly been dragged into the dogfight. Laycock's opened
the scoring after twenty minutes with Steve Morris finishing a typical
solo run in style and they clinched victory when leading scorer Danny
Milner took advantage of a defensive error to net his eighth goal of the
season.
The referee Mr P Booker was one of many referees to get special praise
from the teams last weekend when their handling of the games in very
difficult conditions helped to make the players efforts worthwhile.
Pen Nook knew if they were to have any chance of avoiding the drop they
had to gain a first home win of the season against another of the
strugglers, The Park and it started well for Nook when Ryan Cockayne's
cross was turned into his own net by Ryan Marshall. Cockayne was proving
to be a real threat and when he was brought down in the area, Mark
Woodcock stepped up to make it 2-0.
Although it stayed like that until the interval, the second half wasn't
too old when The Park were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a
penalty which was expertly dispatched by Matt Hill. They then pressed hard
for an equaliser, but it was Nook that had the final say when Mark
Barraclough netted their third.
Another of the relegation strugglers Stocksbridge Park Steels must have
thought they were on their way to a much needed three points when two
terrific finishes by Adam Todd and Jim McSeveney gave them a two goal half
time lead at home to Stannington Village, but their nerves started
jangling when Steve Taylor tapped in to pull one back for the visitors and
in the end they had to settle for a point after Taylor was upended in the
area and David Hague slotted home the penalty.
At the top end of the table, Hemsworth Villa kept their slim title hopes
alive with a 3-1 victory at Niagara. After Keith Cronint had been felled
just outside the area he picked himself up to head home Ian Holmes free
kick and give Villa a deserved lead and they doubled it when Lee Swinburn
slid in their second. Villa took complete control when Holmes again
presented Cronint with another and although a Liam Pigott penalty pulled
one back for the home side, they never looked like getting back in the
game.
Division
One - Travellers
sliced by Fletchers as Oxspring go back to the top
In
Division One Ecclesfield Travellers' seven game winning run came to a
juddering halt with defeat at Fletchers and that allowed Oxspring Lowood
to take over the top spot with victory at Oughtibridge Village and both
Telecom Sports and Mosborough Royal Oak kept their title hopes alive with
important away victories.
After a goalless first half Travellers game at Fletchers burst into life
when Danny Touhey put Travellers ahead from the edge of the area. That was
quickly cancelled out by Gary Cooper's header at the back post, but sub
Paul Bashforth soon had Travellers back in front.
It was perhaps the turning point in the game though as he was injured in
the process and Fletchers levelled again with a Simon Marcus free kick
from all of thirty five yards. Although Fletchers were now clearly in the
ascendancy, it looked like they were bound for a fifth consecutive draw
until another free kick on the edge of the area saw Chris Greenwood curl a
real beauty past the Travellers keeper.
That gave Oxspring Lowood the chance to go back to the top and they
grasped it with both hands, beating Oughtibridge Village 3-0 in a match
they dominated from start to finish. Two Glen Chapman strikes had them two
up by the interval and James Smith added the third in the second half.
After their 2-0 win at Half Moon, Telecom Sports are just four points
behind Oxspring. Telecom also have three games in hand so they might now
be considered favourites to take the title, but bottom club Half Moon
didn't make it easy for them and there was barely fifteen minutes
remaining when Telecom finally made the breakthrough. The Moon keeper had
done Adam Podmore ghosting in to score. Further pressure brought a second
for Telecom when Paul Marrison jinked past two defenders to hit his
seventeenth of the season.
Mosborough Royal Oak also have three games in hand on the leaders and
after their narrow 2-1 win at Woodseats Abbey Oak can still be considered
in the running for a League & Cup double. They were ahead early on
when Craig Woolley converted Kevin Ford's cross, but five minutes into the
second half Adrian Von Wurzbach brought the home side level. Oak weren't
to be denied though and with time running out sub Ricky Gregory netted
their winner.
Royal Oak Pitsmoor slipped out of the top three for the first time in
months when they lost their local derby with Pitsmoor Hotel. On a heavy
surface, they failed to cope with the pace and strength of Hotel's front
two Scott Sjarzes and Gavin Davies and first half goals from those two
meant that both Pitsmoor sides now look outsiders to take a promotion
place.
Division Two - Cutlers keep up the pressure, while Millhouses hit the top ten
While
Division Two leaders Park & Arbour LFS's game with Handsworth Old Boys
was postponed, Cutlers Arms took full advantage to move a point behind the
leaders with a home win over Colley Club. The game was as good as won in
the first three minutes as long distance strikes from Scott Smedley and
Arron Hunt put Cutlers two in front. Sub Jamie Haslam netted a third soon
after the break and although Neil Whitworth deflected Ian Phillips shot
past the Cutlers keeper to pull one back, Pete Hill started and finished
the move for Cutlers fourth.
The highest scorers of the day were Millhouses Abacrombie who boosted
their promotion bid with a ten goal victory over bottom side Lisano
Giants. Joe Keating and Paul Armitage both netted trebles, while their
others came from Ally Berry, Ally Humphreys, Sam Bartram and an own goal.
The day's final game saw Sportsman Stannington come from behind to end
their lean spell with a 3-1 victory over Hollin Bush. Bushes top scorer
Jodi Loy put them in front midway through the first half, but Kevin Bly
tucked the ball under the Bush keeper to level before half time. Jason
Collier scored a brilliant solo goal to give Sportsman the lead and
victory was made save when Chris King netted from the penalty spot.