7 March - Macron Cup -  West End Love Lee

Helped by two Joel Lee penalties, Woodhouse West End marched into the Macron Cup semi finals with a 4-1 victory at Division One leaders Pitsmoor Royal Oak. It took almost half an hour for West End to make the breakthrough and even then it needed a penalty award which Joel Lee confidently placed past the Oak keeper. Mark Calvin quickly headed a second and another penalty, again put away by Lee gave West End a three goal half time lead. Oak responded with a better second half, but they were undone a fourth time when keeper John Badkin's long clearance found Jason Short and he did the rest. Oak finally got their reward for their efforts when Scott Spzajer pulled one back, but West End's lead never looked like being threatened.

CBC Premier -  Leaders beaten again, while Davidson hits four to lift The Vine

Leaders Ecclesfield 147 crashed to a second successive defeat at Hemsworth Villa and have now taken just two points from their last four games. It looked as if Ecclesfield were going to be back on course when Jayson Reeves gave them the lead from the penalty spot after Paul Bashforth had been brought down in the area, but Villa soon hit back to level when David Tollerfield headed home Nick Owen's corner. Russ Westby then crossed to the back post for Mark Hopkinson to head Villa in front and they extended their lead when Westby's corner was volleyed home by Owen. The Ecclesfield defence came under further pressure as Tollerfield and Pete Burgin then combined to supply the cross for Owen to glance a header home and even a second by Reeves never looked like saving the leaders as Villa cruised to a fourth successive victory. Picture right shows the Ecclesfield defence coming under pressure. More action from the game is shown below:

Handsworth WMC missed the chance for a seventh straight victory and second place when they let a two goal lead slip at home to Stocksbridge Park Steels. The visitors started strongly and were unlucky to hit the woodwork twice early on, but Handsworth gradually began to take control and after Robert Pratt had gone close with a free kick, Liam Simmonite chased a lost cause to take the ball off a defender before feeding Kieran Gallagher to race through and give Handsworth the lead. Simmonite then turned in the area to score for a tenth successive game to give Handsworth a two goal half time lead, but Steels hit back in the second half and after John Ward had reduced the arrears, Mitchell Savage scored to earn them a deserved point. referee AD Morris also earned praise not only for his handling of the game, but also for making the game possible by giving the pitch time to thaw.

Wes Bamford has been trying to convince his manager Richard Smith that he could cause problems playing in a more central attacking role and after being given his chance he proved himself right with two goals to help Civil Service to a third successive victory at home to a Laycock Sports now embroiled in the relegation struggle. Matt Meaney gave Service a second minute lead and just three minutes later Bamford struck his first. With Lee Wild running Laycock's ragged down the right, Bamford added his second midway through the first half before Danny Campbell added a fourth in the second half. The nearest Laycock's came to a reply was when Adam Clarke hit the crossbar.

 Rikki Davidson (pictured left) hit all The Vine's four goals as they pipped bottom club Redmires in a seven goal thriller. Danny Seaman carved the Redmires defence open for Davidson to hit his first and Jamie Moore supplied the pass for his second. Davidson completed his hat-trick with just twenty minutes gone when he made the most of a chance provided by Will Blakeney, but instead of it being plain sailing after that Redmires hit back after half time when Nick Hickson scored with a spectacular overhead kick. The Vine's nerves really started to jangle when Andy Birks pulled a second one back and it was a good job that Davidson then headed home his fourth from Brent Healey's cross as an own goal presented Redmires with a third. Redmires might even have saved a point had Ben Shaw's effort not hit a post, but The Vine held on for three precious points.

Second from bottom Yew Tree twice came from behind to claim a point at home to fellow relegation strugglers Millhouses Thermolast. Thomas Higginbottom beat the offside trap to collect Rob Gardiner's pass and fire Millhouses into a lead in just forty five seconds, but Tree responded on seventeen minutes when Steve Marshall headed home Scott Birch's corner (see picture right). Millhouses went back in front before the break when Danny Stuart hit a real screamer from thirty five yards, but Tree levelled in the second half when Michael Smith scored from another Birch set up. Birch then hit the woodwork twice and Chris Brook forced Mark Davies into one of a number of fine saves, but Millhouses also went close on a couple of occasions and a draw seemed the right result in the end. Further pictures from the game are shown below:

Division 1 -  Angel and Ranch close up on leaders, but Crown slip in nine goal thriller

Adam Dickinson struck twice to help second place Woodhouse Angel to victory over Anston Athletic and move within a point of the leaders, with two games in hand. A single Wes Pierce (pictured right) strike was all that separated the teams at half time and soon after the break Ben Sargeant poked in an equaliser for Anston. They weren't level for long though as Karl Colley and Dickinson opened up a two goal lead for Angel and although Carl Drabble met James Lawton's free kick to slide in a second for Anston, it was Angel and Dickinson that had the final say.

Despite conceding for the first time at home, just a point behind Angel is Ranch after two Richard Berry strikes helped them to a 4-2 victory over Anvil side that also had two 'goals' disallowed for offside. Steve Batty (pictured left) has developed a long throw that Rory Delap would be proud of and not for the first time this season, Berry got onto the end of one to flick home the first and the lead was doubled when Breon Fogarty chested the ball down on the edge of the area before rifling home. Dan Billard pulled one back for Anvil just before the break, but Berry restored Ranch's two goal lead when he found the top corner from Tom Hartley's pass. Neil Shackleton reduced the arrears again, but it was Ranch that made sure of the points when Ben Hartley's good run ended with a pass for his brother Tom to tap home.

Fourth place Heeley Crown lost ground as two Adam Travis strikes helped Handsworth Old Boys to victory over them in a nine goal thriller. Paddy O'Brien and Daniel Skinner goals for Heeley meant the sides went in level at half time, but with other goals from James Oldfield, Will Shipstone and Sam Plant, the Old Boys opened up a lead that proved to be just enough after Skinner and Dale Furniss pulled two back for Heeley.

Fifth place Loxley also dropped points as they needed a goal from sub Sam Barrett to earn them a draw at a Niagara side that finally climbed off the foot of the table. Loxley quickly pushed the home side back and they almost took the lead when Geoff Mayfield's effort was hacked off the line. Ed Wickett should have done better with a chance and they paid for it when Joe Naylor gave Niagara a half time lead very much against the run of play. Loxley continued to dominate after the break, but it needed the introduction of Barrett to get them level. They should have gone on to win it, but four Scott Parkin misses combined with some dogged defending meant that Niagara held on to the point that took them off the bottom.

Division 2 -  Four goal Fox outwits Old Crown, while Edwards treble stops Aston's rot

Although leaders Southey and second place Colley both won to maintain their place as frontrunners, the headlines went to Crookes & District's Karl Fox as he maintained his run of goals in every game since signing with four in his side's 6-1 win at Highfield Old Crown. Two Fox strikes either side of a Matt Reay penalty gave Crookes a three goal half time lead and Highfield's cause wasn't helped when they lost their keeper through injury. Fox grabbed his third soon after the break before Gary Wilkins netted Highfield's consolation, but Crookes continued to dominate and Chris Cottyn found the net before Fox scored his eleventh goal in just five games.

Southey Social quickly found themselves in a game as their hosts Red Lion started strongly and deservedly took a half time lead through Ryan Barker, but the leaders shook themselves after the break and John Mellor soon levelled before Danny Lindley put them ahead. Marcus Pass (pictured right) used his experience to find space in a goalmouth scramble for Southey's third before Mellor completed the scoring.

Colley's home form has been their Achilles heel this season and when two James Mace strikes gave struggling Oughtibridge Village a two goal lead, Colley were staring at a fifth home defeat, but Adam Jackson gave them a lifeline just before the break and soon after the interval Craig Hanson levelled. Paul Smith put them in front for the first time but the visitors responded with an Ian Phillips strike. With Richard Hirst outstanding at the back, it looked as if Oughtibridge would hold on for a point until Lee Grocock hit a real screamer from twenty five yards to win it for Colley.

Ross Edwards was the hat-trick hero as Aston Mayerton ended their poor run with a 5-1 home win over fellow promotion chasers Fairbank-Rhodes. Aston took the lead when Scott McKenna's shot was deflected past the keeper by Ryan Hall's backside and two Ross Edwards free kicks gave them a three goal half time lead. Edwards completed his hat-trick after the break and Thomas Connelly added a fifth before Hilton Stratford grabbed a consolation for a Fairbank side that had had to play much of the game with just nine men.

A last gasp Kev Allen strike gave Old Harrow victory over Junior Blades to end their run of seven games without a win. It didn't start well for them though as Tom Grapes volleyed home a cross from his brother Joe, but just before the break the home side levelled with Paul Goodfellow's first of the season. Zak Fleming-Wright put Old Harrow ahead in the second half, but it looked like their winless run would continue when Tom Grapes crossed for Chris Jones to score at the back post until Kev Allen headed a last gasp winner. Both clubs were full of praise for stand-in referee Tony Grapes.

6 Mar - Fixtures for April now listed

All the remaining fixtures have now been scheduled and are now shown on the fixtures page. Full detail of the arrangements so far and referees allocated so far are shown on the fixtures page - PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU READ THE DETAIL ABOUT THE ARRANGEMENTS.

Preview of forthcoming games: Sunday 8 March 2010

After a poor start Handsworth WMC have turned their season round in remarkable fashion and after last weekend's draw with Stocksbridge Park Steels, their seventh match unbeaten,  Handsworth stand joint third in the CBC Premier table. After Liam Simmonite had scored in his tenth successive game to give Handsworth a two goal half time lead, it could have been even better, but they had to settle for a point after Steels hit back in the second half. Simmonite's goals have taken the pressure off his strike partner Kieran Gallagher and his form has flourished, while Liam's younger brother Sean has been a revelation in midfield. Andy Sykes has also been a driving force for them and after that dodgy start Handsworth's young team has shown they have quality throughout.

Handsworth started their unbeaten run with a 6-0 win at Civil Service, but Handsworth are likely to find this weekend's return fixture much harder as Service have run into a good streak of form of their own, winning their last three, including victory over current CBC Premier leaders Ecclesfield 147. Handsworth manager Adam Johnson is honest enough to know that his team will probably need to win all their remaining games to have any realistic chance of landing the title this season so this will be a real test for them.

Despite that point, Stocksbridge are just four points above the relegation zone, but it won't be any easier for them this weekend as they travel to a Hemsworth Villa that also beat leaders Ecclesfield 147 last weekend to make it four wins in a row. That defeat means leaders Ecclesfield 147 have collected just two points from their last twelve, so all three points at a Laycock Sports that has slipped to close to the relegation zone for comfort is a must. After securing a place in the Macron Cup semi finals last weekend, second place Woodhouse West End will now hope to take three points at home against a Yew Tree side battling to avoid the drop, but bottom club Redmires could find themselves at least six points off safety if they lose at home to a Millhouses Thermolast just two places above them.

Macron Cup holders Stannington Village look set to run into fixture congestion after their quarter final tie against Division Two Rivelin was postponed. They will have to try again this weekend and although local derbies can often throw up surprise results, it would be the biggest shock for many years if Rivelin went through.

The big match in Division One sees second place Woodhouse Angel entertain third place Ranch. Both have won their last three and both will know the importance of this one. Ranch haven't tasted defeat since the opening day of the season, while Angel have won five out of five at home, so it looks as if something has got to give this weekend. Leaders Pitsmoor Royal Oak will try to get over last weekend's Macron Cup defeat by Woodhouse West End with a home win over Loxley, but that might not be too easy as Loxley's draw at Niagara last weekend was their fifth game without defeat.

Niagara are fighting their hardest to avoid the drop and that point they gained against Loxley meant they had gone four games without defeat and lifted them off the bottom for the first time in a long time. They could give themselves a real chance of getting out of trouble if they can collect all three points at an injury hit Anvil side that has dropped out of the promotion race after losing its last three. Heeley Crown's promotion bid has also hit the rails after losing three out of its last four. They have also shipped eight goals in their last two and another loss at bottom club Brinsworth Whitehill could signal the end of any realistic promotion bid. Third from bottom Anston Athletic entertain a Bulls Head side just one place above them and the clubs will swap places if Anston can take all three points.

In Division Two it's top against bottom with Southey Social entertaining Birley Moor News, but second place Colley look to have a much harder task at a Fairbank-Rhodes that will be desperate to show that last weekend's 5-1 defeat at Aston Mayerton was just a blip. Aston will be looking to continue in that form when they visit a Crookes & District that took Fairbank's third place with their best win of the season at Highfield Old Crown.

It's not likely to get any easier for Highfield this weekend at a Junior Blades looking to bounce back from their surprise defeat by Old Harrow. It will need a similar performance by Old Harrow if they want to get anything from this weekend's visit to a The Park side that although just three places above them, have a real chance of getting into the promotion race if they can win their games in hand. Oughtibridge Village have slipped dangerously near the bottom three after taking just two points from their last seven games and they will slip at least another place if they lose at home to Red Lion.

FIXTURES IN BRIEF

14-Mar: MACRON CUP: Rivelin v Stannington Village CBC PREMIER: Handsworth WMC v Civil Service; Hemsworth Villa v Stocksbridge P S; Laycock Sports v Ecclesfield 147; Millhouses Thermolast v Redmires; Woodhouse West End v Yew Tree  DIVISION 1: Anston Athletic v Bulls Head; Anvil v Niagara; Brinsworth Whitehill v Heeley Crown; Pitsmoor Royal Oak v Loxley; Ranch v Woodhouse Angel; Handsworth O B v No Game DIVISION 2: Crookes & District v Aston Mayerton; Fairbank-Rhodes v Colley; Junior Blades v Highfield Old Crown; Oughtibridge Village v Red Lion; Southey Social v Birley Moor News; The Park v Old Harrow

21-Mar: CBC PREMIER: Ecclesfield 147 v Laycock Sports; Millhouses Thermolast v Stocksbridge P S; Redmires v Stannington Village; The Vine v Civil Service; Woodhouse West End v Hemsworth Villa; Handsworth WMC v No Game; Yew Tree v No Game DIVISION 1: Bulls Head v Anston Athletic; Handsworth O B v Pitsmoor Royal Oak; Heeley Crown v Anvil; Loxley v Niagara; Ranch v Brinsworth Whitehill; No Game v Woodhouse Angel DIVISION 2: Aston Mayerton v Southey Social; Birley Moor News v Fairbank-Rhodes; Colley v Rivelin; Highfield Old Crown v Red Lion; Junior Blades v Oughtibridge Village; The Park v Crookes & District; Old Harrow v No Game

28-Mar: MACRON CUP: Semi Final 1 v Semi Final 1; Semi Final 2 v Semi Final 2 CBC PREMIER: Civil Service v Redmires; Ecclesfield 147 v Handsworth WMC; Laycock Sports v Stocksbridge P S; Stannington Village v Woodhouse West End; The Vine v Millhouses Thermolast; No Game v Hemsworth Villa DIVISION 1: Anston Athletic v Woodhouse Angel; Anvil v Bulls Head; Brinsworth Whitehill v Loxley; Handsworth O B v Heeley Crown; Pitsmoor Royal Oak v Niagara DIVISION 2: Aston Mayerton v Highfield Old Crown; Crookes & District v Colley; Oughtibridge Village v Fairbank-Rhodes; Red Lion v Old Harrow; Southey Social v Birley Moor News; The Park v Junior Blades; Rivelin v No Game