20 Dec - All games postponed

Every game in all three divisions and in both Sunday Cups was postponed due to the wet and icy conditions.

13 Dec - CBC Premier -  Senior gives 147 treble service, while Steels have a triple Wards

Craig Senior bagged a hat-trick as CBC Premier leaders Ecclesfield 147 thrash an under strength Hemsworth Villa, but second place Woodhouse West End kept pace with them as Joel Lee grabbed a brace in victory at The Vine. Another hat-trick came from Stocksbridge Park Steels John Ward in his sides win at Redmires, while Ali Mitchell and Sean Flynn goals earned Stannington Village a narrow win at Civil Service and Liam Simmonite scored in a fifth consecutive game to help Handsworth WMC win at Laycock Sports and climb out of the bottom three.

Ecclesfield 147 didn’t waste any time taking the lead against with Senior grabbing his first and he rounded Villa’s stand-in keeper before rolling in his second (see pictures 1st & 2nd left). Ryan Keeney’s pass then set Kevin Hunter up for 147’s third (see picture 3rd left) and an unlucky own goal put them four up. Nick Owen pulled one back for Villa, but the leaders were in no mood for any further slip ups and Senior completed his hat-trick before Danny Touhey just pipped his brother Scott to the man of the match award by chipping 147’s sixth. More action from the game is below:

Woodhouse West End did all the damage against The Vine in the first half with a Spencer Taylor strike sandwiched between two by leading scorer Joel Lee. The Vine didn’t give up though and they had a strong second half that needed West End’s centre back Dave Kippax to pick up his side’s man of the match award.

Third place Stannington Village kept pace with the top two with a narrow win at Civil Service. They took the lead when Lee Johnstone’s shot hit the bar and fell to leading scorer Ali Mitchell and he made no mistake. Johnstone was again the creator when his cross was diverted home by Sean Flynn to double Stannington’s lead before the break, but after the break Service got themselves back into the game when Adam Firth netted his fifth in their last four games, yet they couldn’t get a second and Village held on for the points.

Stocksbridge Park Steels stayed fifth as a John Ward hat-trick helped them come from behind to win at Redmires. James O’Connell gave Redmires an early lead, but Stocksbridge were in front by the break. Steels extended their lead soon after the break, but Luke Siggs pulled a second back for Redmires. Any thoughts of a comeback were soon dispelled though as Ward’s hat-trick and others from Adam Todd and Mark Barraclough gave Steels the breathing space they needed, making O’Connell’s second for Redmires just a consolation.

Although Liam Simmonite and Tom Crosby both went close in the first half, Handsworth WMC’s visit to Laycock Sports remained goalless in the first half, so Handsworth introduced Kieran Gallagher to the action for the second half and he had an immediate impact when his corner was volleyed home by Crosby. Handsworth doubled their lead when Ryan Taylor and Danny Leasley combined to set up Simmonite to score for a fifth consecutive game and their victory was sealed when Matt Sykes’s through ball was finished off by Gallagher to make sure Handsworth lifted themselves clear of the bottom three. One other to have a good impact on the game was referee Tom Bramall (pictured right) as he gained praise from both sides for his performance.

Division 1 - Pitsmoor put Angel in Stocks, while Ranch say Wajs that

In Division One’s match of the day Pitsmoor Royal Oak ended Woodhouse Angel's unbeaten record. Oak leading scorer Elijah Lewis played a quick one-two with Leon Stocks (pictured left) before putting Oak ahead and Stocks, helped by a slight deflection added a second before the break. It could have been much worse for Angel as Stocks also hit the woodwork twice, yet Angel got themselves back into the game through Ryan Batham, but they couldn’t find an equalizer and their record was gone.

Up to second is Ranch as Chris Wajs celebrated scoring his first goal in eight years at the club in his side’s victory at Loxley. Ranch led at half time after Ben Hartley’s cross deceived the Loxley keeper and finished in the net, but Loxley were level soon after the break when Josh Delaney outpaced Ian Cooper to crash the ball home. Loxley’s cause hadn’t been helped by the loss of centre back John Denton to a face injury and his presence was missed when Carl Pearce won the header at a corner. Although it saved, the keeper couldn’t hold on to it and Adam Hadfield stabbed the ball home. Victory was sealed when Wajs long wait for a goal ended with a well struck free kick.

Level on points with third place is Heeley Crown after a Daniel Skinner double helped them to victory over Anston Athletic. Scott Smedley scored to give Crown a half time lead, but his return from injury was short lived as he once again had to give way and another long lay off looks likely. Skinner was on target with a good finish to double their lead, but Anston pulled one back when Ben Sargeant fired home from the edge of the area. Crown hit back with Skinner’s second and Greg McInstosh sealed the three points with a header at the back post, although Adam Russell managed a second for Anston at the near post.

A Rees Williams double and one from Chris Bowler gave Handsworth Old Boys a three goal lead just after half time at home to Bulls Head and although Bull did much better after that and carved out a number of chances, Kerry Dixon could only convert one of them win.

Carl Fleming gave Brinsworth Whitehill a first half lead at Niagara and although Craig Lonsdale levelled for Niagara after the break, Flemings second soon after won it for Brinsworth to lift them out of the bottom three.

Division 2 - Edwards at the double to lift Aston into the top three, but Southey go nine points clear

Division Two leaders Southey Social went nine points clear at the top with a narrow victory at Highfield Old Crown. Southey had hammered Crown 8-1 just a couple of weeks ago, but Crown quickly showed there wasn’t going to be a repeat of that and all that separated the two sides at the break was Simon Jebson’s opener for Southey – Southey’s fiftieth goal of the season. Wayne Wood hit a second in the second half, but Crown showed real spirit and pulled one back when Eddie McErlain headed home, although they couldn’t quite find an equalizer.

Colley had the chance to go second, but they found themselves behind at home to Junior Blades when Matt Cwojdzinski gave the visitors a half time lead. Leading scorer Lee Campbell levelled for Colley after the break, but they were soon behind again when Luke Thompson converted John Sheldon’s cross at the near post. Mark Searle grabbed a second equaliser for Colley, but the Blades were not to be denied and they took home the points when left back James Allen volleyed home after Colley had failed to clear a corner properly.

Up to third is Aston Mayerton after two Ross Edwards strikes helped them to twice come from behind to beat The Park. Greg Ramsden celebrated his return from injury by putting The Park ahead, but Aston were level before the break when Scott McKenna followed up to score at the second attempt after seeing his first effort blocked. Ryan Marshall gave The Park the lead a second time after the interval, but Aston replied when Ryan Hall was brought down in the area and Ross Edwards smashed home from the penalty spot. It looked as if Aston would have to settle for a point, but in the last minute Scott Hall chipped the ball over the defence for Edwards to run on and net his second.

Up to fourth is Rivelin after they ended their run of three defeats in four games with victory over Oughtibridge Village. Defender Jamie Cherry ran fully fifty yards to give Rivelin the lead and further first half strikes from Josh Bermingham (pictured right) and Scott Smith completed the scoring.

6 Dec - Macron Cup -  147 get rounded up by Ranch and Niagara tangled up by Vine

Division One Ranch (pictured right) claimed their third CBC Premier scalp to become the first team to reach the semi finals of this season's Macron Cup when they pulled off one of the biggest shocks for years by beating current CBC Premier leaders Ecclesfield 147 in a penalty shoot-out.

Ranch set their stall out to frustrate their highly rated visitors with a 4-5-1 formation and although 147 had the lion's share of possession and Gavin Hunter and Jayson Reeves both squandered good chances to put them ahead and Reeves had one effort cleared off the line, but Ranch's workrate and some tremendous saves by keeper Richard Berry managed to keep 147 at bay.

147 began to rue their missed chances when, with about an hour gone, in a very rare attack, and with probably their first meaningful effort on target, Ranch's lone forward, Tom Hartley (pictured left) got his reward for his thankless task when he got onto the end of an Adam Hadfield cross to tap home and put Ranch ahead.

That brought a furious response from 147 and their leading scorer Craig Senior finally beat Berry to level, but after that Ranch's back four of Chris Wajs, Ian Cooper, Carl Pearce and Adam Hadfield stood firm to send the game into extra time. In extra time 147's constant pressure without reward seemed to take its toll and it was Ranch that more and more looked likely to grab a winner, but neither side could find that elusive winner so it went to penalties. Richard Honeyman tucked away Ranch's first penalty, but when Reeves stepped up for 147's first he was left shaking his head in disbelief as Berry pulled off a save Gordon Banks would have been proud of. After Steve Batty netted his penalty and 147 scored their's, Berry then showed he could score penalties as well as save them to keep Ranch ahead. Ian Buckley scored Ranch's fourth, but with 147 having scored their other penalties it was left to Ranch player-manager Carl Pearce drive home Ranch's fifth penalty to take his side through.

Division One Niagara couldn't match that result in their delayed Round 3 tie as three first half goals saw CBC Premier The Vine through to the quarter final where they will face Yew Tree. The Vine took the lead after just five minutes when Chris Hull's ball in caused confusion in the home side's defence and an attempted clearance hit Kevin Ford and finished up in the net. Their was no luck about their second, with Rikki Davidson (pictured right) scoring from the edge of the area and the game was as good as over when a Brent Healey shot was only parried by the keeper and Andrew Marsh followed up to hit The Vine's third on the half hour. Niagara did their best to get back into the game after the break, but it was still The Vine that looked the more likely to score and Dan Foster and Dan Seaman both hit the woodwork, and Ford went close to another.

Steve Gee Merit Trophy - Roberts double sees Southey through & a Delaney double helps Loxley

A Chris Roberts double helped Southey Social to become the first to take their place in the final five as they came from behind to beat fellow Division Two side Colley, while a Josh Delaney double helped Loxley overcome Oughtibridge Village in their delayed Round One tie. Colley were the first to show and took the lead when Lee Grocock's free kick squirmed under the body of the Southey keeper, but his blushes were soon spared when Chris Roberts hammered home an equaliser. Back came Colley though and it looked as if they might beat Southey for a second time this season when leading scorer Lee Campbell put them back in front.

It stayed like that until the break, but in the second half the games defining moment came when Southey's John Mellor was brought down in the area as he was through on goal, bringing a penalty and a red card for Neil Whitworth. Mellor picked himself up to score from the spot and after that Colley's ten couldn't hold on. Roberts netted his second to put Southey ahead and their win was confirmed when a Rob Womack cross was turned into his own net by an under pressure defender.

Loxley took the lead when the young, hard working Ed Wicketts crossed for Josh Delaney to head firmly into the roof of the net. It was the same combination that struck again with Wicketts cross this time controlled by Delaney before he calmly stroked the ball home to double Loxley's lead and only a brave save by Village keeper Matt Lutterell at the feet of Anthony Marshall stopped Loxley from going further ahead.

The second half saw Oughtibridge get on top as Danny Hill began to run midfield and they got their rewards when Jordan Hague beat the offside trap to fire past Loxley keeper Ian Cawthorne. That looked like it would give Loxley a very uncomfortable last fifteen minutes, but when a deep cross came in from the right, an under pressure Village defender turned the ball past his own keeper to give the visitors the breathing space they needed. Loxley will now face fellow Division One side Heeley Crown in Round Two.

Division 2 - Crookes take the points from Old Harrow

In the only league game to beat the weather, after letting a two goal lead slip, a Sam Firth winner saw Crookes & District take the points away from Old Harrow and climb out of the bottom three. Crookes started the day a point and a place behind their hosts and with having played three games more than Old Harrow, Crookes knew a win was vital and they got off to the perfect start when a Sam Firth free kick was put home by Matt Reay after just five minutes. It got even better for them ten minutes later when Chris Cottyn grabbed their second, but Cottyn turned from hero to villain before half time when he scored again - into his own goal.

The second half saw Old Harrow get on top and when Pat Lynch hit an equaliser they looked more likely to go on and win it, but Crookes gathered themselves and hit back to go back in front with a low shot from Firth. They then hit the woodwork twice and the side netting as they went all out for a clincher, but, with their defence for once holding firm it wasn't needed and they collected their second away win of the season and that place out of the bottom three.