22 Sept 2011 -
Bulls Head triumph in Steve Gee Merit
Cup -
After Kerry Dixon had drilled
home an equaliser, Alan Mowforth (pictured left) scored the type of goal worthy of
winning any game as Bulls Head just came out on top in a good quality
Steve Gee Merit Cup Final against fellow Division One rivals Niagara.
After a start that saw both teams getting used to the big Stocksbridge Park Steels pitch it was Bulls Head that had the early chances, but last season's leading scorer missed an absolute sitter when he put the ball over the bar from little more than a yard out. Niagara's confidence grew after that and they began to take the game to Bulls Head and after a succession of corners, when the ball came out to Daniel Campbell his well placed shot skipped off the top of a defender into the top corner. Ash then missed another chance and Niagara went into the interval in front.
The second half saw Niagara looking for a second and after Danny Bainbridge's header was well saved, he looked certain to get it when he went round the keeper, but his shot came back off the post. Bulls Heaed started to have more of the ball and after some pressure the ball came out to Kerry Dixon on the edge of the area and his low shot flew through the crowd of players into the bottom corner.
Bulls Head were on top now and Joe Keighley looked certain to add a second, but his header came back off the bar. Niagara reacted and Bainbridge fired just wide, but it was Bulls Head that got the decisive second when the ball fell to Bulls man-of-the-match Alan Mowforth on the edge of the area he produced a step-over to leave a defender for dead before bending a great shot round the keeper into the net.
With their man-of-the-match Tom Staniforth driving them forward, Niagara did their best to grab the equaliser and Cooper headed wide, Bainbridge hit the side netting, but Bulls Head somehow managed to hold on until referee Matt Tyers final whistle. A final word for the officials referee Matt Tyers and his assistants, James Bell and Dennis Williams as they did a great job in a match that saw two sides play flat out without the need for any cards of any colour.
Teams: Bulls Head: Neil Gasgoine, Joe Windle, Kerry Dixon, Robert Dowber, John Marples, Tom Cocker, Matt Coates, Mark Bryant, Nick Ash, Alan Mowforth, John Kentzer. Subs: John Ward, Lee Smith, Joe Keighley, Matt Wilson, Phil Jenkins.
Niagara: James Shepherd, Craig Lonsdale, Matt Edwards, Daniel Bonnick,Ryan Sorby, Simon Staniforth, Craig Foster, Tom Staniforth, Daniel Cooper, Danny Bainbridge, Chris Smith. Subs: Bren Burns, Rikki Parsisson, Paul Cadman, Paul Bennison
Scorers: Daniel Cooper (Niagara 30 mins), Kerry Dixon (Bulls Head 75 mins), Alan Mowforth (Bulls Head 82 mins)
Referee: Matt Tyers. Assstant referees: James Bell, Dennis Williams
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16 Sept - Steels
re-Ward-ed with their first Steve Gee Merit
Cup -
Four Nick Ward strikes helped Stocksbridge Park Steels
come from behind to defeat Colley 7-2 and win the Blades Super Draw
League Steve Gee Merit Cup for the first time. Lee Grocock hit a real
thunderbolt from twenty five yards to give Colley the lead, but it
lasted less than a minute as Ward hit his first. Ward then put Steels
ahead and although Colley skipper Neil Whitworth briefly levelled,
Ward's third had Steels ahead at half time. After the breakColley almost
levelled again when Lee Campbell hit a post, but class began to tell and
as Colley began to tire, Steels took full advantage with Ward's fourth,
two from skipper Adam Todd and one from John Ward. The sides shake hands
before the game and Steels scorers Nick Ward, Adam Todd & John Ward
celebrate with the cup. More photos from the game are below.
3 Sept -
Laycock Sports lift the
Steve Gee Merit Cup
Despite the torrid downpours of rain the Look Local stadium at Stocksbridge was in perfect condition to stage the Steve Gee Merit Final and a thrilling game saw Laycock Sports beat The Vine 4-2.
Laycocks fell behind in the first minute when James Mitcham's shot left Grant Parkin flat footed, but they almost equalised when Sam Read had a shot well saved by Vine keeper James Marshall. Marshall then produced another great save to stop Craig Woolley heading into his own goal, but The Vine edged the first half though and deservedly led at the break.
The second half wasn't
too old though when Read danced his way past three defenders before
coolly slotting the ball past Marshall to equalise and Read was again
involved when he met John Kilcoyne's corner with a volley that looked to
be going into the net before
Stavros Kontou made sure to put 
Laycock's
in front. Their lead was extended when Steve Morris took the ball off a
defender in the penalty area before beating Marshall, but The Vine hit
back when Steve Wilkinson's superb free kick beat Grant Parkin in the Laycock's net. With the clock almost up The Vine had another free kick
just outside the area, but this time the ball was blocked and Read
pounced on the clearance to outpace The Vine defence and cap his Man of
the Match performance with his second of the night.
Pictured far left is manager Mark Plumtree, veteran Andy Register and secretary Alan Parkin, while the photo second left shows Man of the Match Sam Read and skipper Steve Morris.
They weren't level for long though as Redmires again started the
half quickly and after an
almighty scramble in the Handsworth penalty area that saw the ball hit both the bar and a post, the ball fell to Danny Lindley to smash Redmires back in front. They extended their lead soon after when Andy Birks swivelled to fire home and only a terrific goalline clearance by Karl Atkins stopped Rob Womack adding a fourth. Handsworth
(pictured left) did their best to get back into the game, but Redmires keeper Karl Tiler only had one save of note to make and the trophy went to Redmires. 
