Ecclesfield Red Rose 1-2 Swinton Athletic

County Senior League Premier Division, Saturday 23^rd November 2013

An own goal by Ecclesfield’s Sean Lee and Jon Billup’s close range shot were enough to end Swinton’s run of seven consecutive defeats, with a 2-1 victory on Saturday. 

On twenty minutes, Alex Wilkinson’s corner from the right swerved towards the far post, where Red Rose defender Sean Lee inadvertently headed into his own goal.

Ten minutes later their lead was doubled. Wilkinson’s corner was spilt by Ecclesfield goalkeeper Zak Fleming Wright, and fell to Swinton’s captain Billups who poked the ball into the net.

The home side, Ecclesfield, netted a consolation in the second half when Ryan Keeney’s free-kick flew into the top corner.

Ecclesfield’s winless run is now at eleven games, dating back to the 31^st August.

Red Rose created the match’s first opportunity of the game. Liam Boswell’s long range effort sailed wide. Shortly after, Swinton’s John Burns sent a chance wide of the right post.

But then Swinton took control. Mark Clare’s shot was cleared of the line by Keeney, after Curtis Wilkinson’s pull-back. 

Billup’s flick on then fell to feet of Justin Greenwood, but as the striker poked the ball into the net he was ruled offside.

But it didn’t take long for Athletic to have the ball into the net again. Wilkinson’s left footed corner was attempted to be cleared by Sean Lee, but his header ended in the back of the net, and the league’s bottom side led 1-0.

Still the visitor’s pressed for a second. John Burns’ short pass to Billups resulted in a long range effort which flew wide.

It took until the 24^th minute for Ecclesfield’s second chance of the half to be formed. Goalkeeper Zak Fleming Wright played a long ball to Harry O’Neill’s who produced a flick header, but it was a comfortable catch for Dan Morton.

Mark Clare then cut inside from the left and produced an effort from a tight angle which cannoned against the post, as Swinton continued their search for a second goal.

The goal was imminent however, with another Wilkinson corner being the deciding factor. His set piece was spilt by Fleming Wright, with Billups reacting quicker than the Ecclesfield defence and punishing the error with a close range finish.

Wilkinson continued to look dangerous; his long range free-kick was tipped over by the goalkeeper. Elsewhere, Ben Brown’s long range shot for Ecclesfield failed to trouble Dan Morton.

John Burn’s low shot concluded the first half action, which required Fleming Wright to tip the ball around the post.

After the interval it continued to be Swinton with the dominance. Firstly Burns’ long range effort was caught by Fleming Wright, before Mark Clare fired high and wide.

On fifty minutes Justin Greenwood sent through Curtis Wilkinson, who had a one-on-one denied low by the goalkeeper. 

However, Ecclesfield found a way back into the tie. Ryan Keeney’s free-kick from the left flew into the top right corner, to make it 2-1, much to Swinton’s frustrations who believed their goalkeeper had been fouled.

Another of Keeney’s set pieces almost results in an equaliser seven minutes later. His delivery was met by the head of Liam Boswell but it went just wide.

Cautious that Ecclesfield were pushing for a leveller, Swinton attempted to regain a foothold in the game. Hayden Barnett’s direct free-kick pushed around the post. The resulting corner, again from Alex Wilkinson, was met by Curtis Wilkinson’s head but was sent over the crossbar.

At the other end Ecclesfield carved late chances. Ben Sanderson blasting over Keeney’s free-kick and substitute Douglas Clegg sent a long range effort chance in the same direction, as Athletic achieved a vital three points in their quest for survival in their first season in the Premier Division.

The result moves Swinton to just one point from safety, with Ecclesfield remaining in the bottom three on goal difference.

Ecclesfield Red Rose Team: Zak Fleming Wright, Alex Radford, Ryan Radford, Ben Sanderson, Ryan Keeney, Ben Brown (captain), Sean Lee, Liam Boswell, Craig Senior, Harry O’Neill, Billy Rowley. Substitutes: Vinnie Ogden, Josh Corker, Douglas Clegg, Jerome Grant.

Swinton Athletic Team: Dan Morton, Ross Shelton, Alex Wilkinson, Hayden Bennett, Ryan Doxey, Jon Billups (captain), John Burns, Matt Beever, Justin Greenwood, Curtis Wilkinson, Mark Clare. Substitutes: Josh Dacre, Joel Bennett, Darren Walker, Michael Burke, Jack Ward.

Everest 2-4 Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves

County Senior League Premier Division, Saturday 16^th November 2013

Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves put their 5-1 defeat to Handsworth last time out, behind them with victory at Everest on Saturday.

The visitors opened the scoring, arguably against the run of play. John Beggs’ free-kick was headed in by skipper Ryan MacDonald, who escaped his marker in the area.

Seven minutes prior to half-time the lead was doubled. Luke Townsend went through the defence and released a shot, one-on-one. The goalkeeper, Anthony James, parried the attempt but failed to make enough of an impact to see away the danger. Townsend was quickest to react, and with James still grounded, he slotted the ball into the empty net.

Everest refused to give up however, and they soon pulled a goal back. Steven Nixon crossed for Andy Taylor who headed into the bottom left corner for 2-1, giving themselves hope at the interval.

Stocksbridge pulled further ahead on sixty-six minutes. Townsend shrugged Christopher James off the ball before sending his one-on-one into the bottom right corner.

With five minutes to go, Everest, who had matched their opponents for long periods, won a penalty when Joe Yeardley was fouled. Andy Taylor sent the penalty into the bottom left to make it 3-2.

But this proved a mere consolation with Stocksbridge receiving a penalty of their own in stoppage time. Cole Payne found Townsend who attempted to round goalkeeper, James, who brought the onrushing striker to the floor. Townsend stepped up to take the resulting spot-kick, sending the ball into the bottom right-corner and concluding the scoring at 4-2.

Everest started brightly. Adam Smith’s cross was headed wide by Jamie Jones, and minutes later Jones had a long-range effort which was caught by Park Steels’ ‘keeper Danny Salem.

Mohammed Ibrahim attempted conjuring a superb chance for himself and Everest midway through the first half. With his back to goal, he chipped the ball into the air and attempted an overhead kick, which Salem was able to gather. 

But as a kick-in-the-teeth to the hosts dominance, it was the away side who took the lead through MacDonald’s glancing header.

Everest were stunned but the opening goal gave Stocksbridge spark. Cole Payne’s shot from the right of the box requiring fantastic fingertip reaction by James.

The hosts continued to create chances. Andy Taylor poked wide Adam Smith’s low cross and David Young’s long-distance effort sailed over the roof of the net as they hunted for an equaliser.

But again, the Stocksbridge resilience proved too much. Townsend’s first effort was denied by Anthony James, but he made no mistake with the follow up and suddenly it was 2-0.

But the hosts hit back with Andy Taylor’s header causing an undoubted change to both sides team-talk with the goal just before half-time.

But Everest failed to be quickest out of the blocks in the second half as the interval appeared to squash some of their momentum. Instead it was Stocksbridge who had the first chance of the second half but Luke Townsend’s miskick when breaking through one-on-one meant the game continued with a solitary goal separating the sides.

However, Everest soon came close to an equaliser. Adam Smith’s corner eventually fell to the feet of Jamie Jones, but the close range effort was cleared off the line by the Stocksbridge defence.

Taylor also came close to doubling his tally. Smith’s free-kick fell to the tall striker who lost his marker, but his rushed shot was gathered by Salem.

And as seems to be Stocksbridge’s style, missed opportunities from the opposition get punished. There were appeals for a foul when Christopher James was shrugged off the ball by Townsend, but the referee allowed play to continue and the scoreline became 3-1.

Both sides continued to press. Cole Payne’s cross was met by Ben Rhodes whose far post shot was tapped over by the goalkeeper and Steven Nixon’s chance from inside the box from the right which was parried by James were two notable opportunities for either side.

The game however still had time to provide two penalties. Andy Taylor reduced the deficit to one with his into the bottom left hand corner, but it became 4-2 when Townsend slotted into the bottom right.

The win means Stocksbridge leapfrog Everest in the league table.

Everest FC Team: Anthony James, David  Young, Phil Miskel, Christopher James, Carl Bowler, Steven Nixon, Jamie Jones, Joe Yeardley, Andy Taylor, Mohammed Ibrahim, Adam Smith. Subsitutes: Joe France, Steve Goulding, Daniel Beech.

Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves Team: Danny Salem, Hayden Ward, Louis Mannion, Ryan MacDonald, Tom Cadzow, James Hoyle, Louis Shaw, John Beggs, Cole Payne, Luke Townsend, Charlie Stewart. Substitutes: Thomas Nurney, Ben Rhodes.

Rotherham Town 3-1 Sheffield Athletic

County Senior League Division One, Saturday 26^th October 2013

Rotherham Town moved into second place in Division One with a 3-1 victory over Sheffield Athletic, their sixth win in seven games in all competitions.

Town took the lead on the half-hour mark. A Rotherham corner was weakly cleared and soon ended up at Mike Parkinson’s feet in the box; his turn and shot nestled into the bottom left corner.

Their lead was doubled from the penalty spot early in the second half. Steve Jefferies attempted to weave inside the area from the left, but captain Paul Robertson stuck out a leg and was adjudged to bring down the Number 8. Carl Marriott took the resulting spot kick and stroked the ball into the bottom left corner as goalkeeper, Daryle Johnson, dived the wrong way.

The third goal of the game was the pick of the goals. Town’s Steve Andrews spectacular long-range half-volley whistled into the right corner, unstoppable for Johnson.

Athletic were able to pull a goal back five minutes from full time. Andrew Lee’s cross was tapped in by Lewis Chergle. But the Sheffield side were condemned to their fourth defeat in five league games, dropping to twelfth in the table.

With windy conditions restricting passing football in the early stages, few clear-cut chances were created. Jamie Hewit’s long range shot for Sheffield and Rich Williams’ effort for Rotherham going over the bar were the only opportunities in the first fifteen minutes.

Marriott almost gave the hosts a surprise lead with an effort from the right of the penalty area; his distant attempt going just above the crossbar.

At the opposite end of the field, Nidza Luwe shot wide of the left post.

In the twenty-fourth minute Rotherham’s Kingsley Little produced a beautiful cross towards Rich Williams, but the striker couldn’t quite make contact and the ball fell just wide.

Still Rotherham continued to press; Marcus Squires’ free-kick found Parkinson but the header was caught by the goalkeeper. But on his team’s next attack at goal Parkinson found the back of the net, with a turn and shot in a crowded penalty area.

Sheffield were far from being outplayed however and created openings which came close to drawing an equaliser. Firstly, Andrew Lee chipped into the box and Luwe headed wide and a few minutes later Lewis Chergle’s low shot inside the area was claimed by the goalkeeper.

On the stroke of half-time Sheffield’s Anthony Marshal’s shot from inside the box drifted wide. Prior to this Daryle Johnson was forced to deny Liam Johnson’s long range effort and Marriott’s free-kick.

The second half immediately began with incident. Paul Robertson conceded a penalty when Steve Jefferies fell to the ground, the Sheffield captain however was convinced no contact was made. Carl Marriott successfully dispatched from the spot.

Rotherham had the ball in the net for a third time but Liam Johnson was ruled out for offside after latching on to Rich Williams’ through ball.

The relief of this decision had a temporary positive affect on the Sheffield attack and soon after they created their best chance thus far. Anthony Marshal’s corner was met by Robertson, but his bullet header fell just wide. A minute later Robertson’s head met another set piece, this time a free-kick, but was denied by Rotherham’s Chris Noye.

The best save of the match belonged to Johnson however; Steve Jeffries left-footed shot looked destined for the bottom corner if not for his reflexes.

But Steve Andrews’ stunning goal which spurred from the resulting corner beat Johnson and all-but-ended hope of an Athletic comeback. Although they soon grabbed a consolation through Chergle’s tap-in.

Still Sheffield refused to surrender and Marshal’s half-volley stung the palms of Noye.

Meanwhile Rotherham mustered chances of their own. Liam Johnson went beyond Marshal on a run into the box but Daryle Johnson saved with his fingertips at the far post; which limited the defeat to 3-1.

Rotherham Town Team: Chris Noye, Marcus Squires, Marcus Smallman (captain), Matt Brunyee, Chris Liddle, Simon Price, Mike Parkinson, Steve Jefferies, Carl Marriott, Kingsley Little, Rich Williams. Substitutes: Mike Reinolds, Dale Benton, Liam Johnson, Andy Hanson, Steve Andrews.

Sheffield Athletic: Daryle Johnson, Dean Spotswood, William Kitching, Paul Robertson (captain), Lee Coddington, Andrew Lee, Lewis Chergle, Jamie Hewit, Oatis Thorne, Anthony Marshal, Nidza Luwe. Substitutes: Gary Eades

Valley Knights 3-6 Davy FC Under 21’s

County Senior League Under 21 Division, Saturday 19^th October 2013

Davy FC Under 21’s recorded their first win over the season and ended a run of three consecutive defeats in emphatic style, beating Valley Knights 6-3 on Saturday.

Knights opened the scoring through a superb solo goal from Sam Round. The tricky winger cut inside from the left before weaving away from defender, Louis Fletcher and sliding the ball past the goalkeeper.

The hosts’ lead lasted for thirty minutes, but as the interval neared Davy fought back. To equalise, Sam Day found Adam McCarthy who cut inside from the right and shot across goal into the bottom left.

Buoyed by this, Davy didn’t take long to add a second to their tally. Day cut inside from the left and shot from just inside the box; goalkeeper Jake Baker got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out.

From then on the visitors never looked back and made it three straight after the restart. Day’s free-kick from the left found McCarthy at the far post, the striker blasted his first effort against the crossbar, but he was able to head in the rebound for his second of the game. Five minutes later McCarthy netted his hat-trick, with an effort from inside the box.

On sixty minutes, Knights reduced the deficit back to two. James Saunders’ free-kick deflected in off the wall. However, Davy pulled further away four minutes later with Nathan Wood’s cross from the right tucked in by Sam Day, making it 5-2.

Wood finished from Day’s cross to make it 6-2, before Valley Knights netted a consolation goal from the penalty spot through Adam Gwilliam with 6-3 the final score.

The win lifts Davy to 7^th in the Under 21 division, despite having played fewer games than those above them in the table.

Knights started the game brightly. Lee Calvert’s corner found its way to Adam Gwilliam whose overhead kick was cleared off the line. Five minutes later, Round netted in the host’s opener following a superb solo run.

Round looked motivated throughout and was the architect of the next attack. The winger sprinted beyond right-back Elliott Trundler before cutting inside, but was denied by goalkeeper Josh Bunting’s legs. Round was close to netting again when he got on the end of Gwilliam’s cross but, unmarked, he was unable to hit the target.

Gwilliam then found himself, albeit someway from goal, one-on-one with Bunting but a miskick meant the ball spun out for a goal-kick.

Still Knights had chances. Ben Haywood’s long throw was almost poked in by Luke Knowles at the far post, but the Davy defence held firm.

With squandered chances and the lead only at one, Davy were resilient. Sam Day’s shot from a tight angle flew wide, before McCarthy netted  the equaliser, with Day providing the assist.

Day then gave his side the lead with a shot from the edge of the box, which was too powerful for goalkeeper Jake Baker.

Davy kicked on during the second half. Day’s free kick found McCarthy at the far post; first the woodwork denied him, but the headed rebound made it 3-1. 

Sam Day was close again with a free-kick close to the half-way line which went just over the bar. At the opposite end of the field, Jordan Watson crossed for Round, whose shot was parried by the goalkeeper. Before two minutes later McCarthy grabbed his hat-trick with a placed finish for 4-1.

McCarthy’s flick on then found substitute Demetrious Kiwamya, but his left-footed shot was cleared off the line by Round.

Knights made it 4-2 with James Saunders’ deflected free-kick, and they came close to reducing the deficit to just one but Gwilliam sent his one-on-one wide. It was 5-2 through Day’s penalty box finish after Wood’s cross from the right.

Jordan Watson cut inside from the right which forced Josh Bunting into a save as the visitors refused to wither. From the resulting corner, Daniel Shaw rushed a shot which flew over the crossbar.

Tom Fewkes’ long-range lob for Davy glided over, before with ten minutes to go Wood headed in Davy’s sixth.

Joseph Secker fouled Watson for a penalty awarded to Valley Knights, which was calmly sent into the bottom right corner by Gwilliam. The goalkeeper dived in the correct direction, but the penalty was perfectly placed.

The immediate aftermath of the spot-kick involved clashes between both sets of players. However referee, 

Mr Gough, was quick on the scene and Davy held on for victory for the final five minutes.

Valley Knights Under 21’s Team: Jake Baker, Ben Lancaster, Ben Haywood, Daniel Shaw, James Ryder, Lee Calvert, Luke Knowles, James Saunders, Zak Green, Adam Gwilliam, Sam Round. Subs: Adam Tolley, Alex Gray, Sam Small, Jordan Watson, Daniel Wibberly.

Davy FC Under 21’s Team: Josh Bunting, Elliott Trundler, Tom Fewkes, Dane Fisher, Louis Fletcher, Dylon Vilary, Sam Day, Nathan Storey, Adam McCarthy, Nathan Wood, Owen Phillips. Subs: Gareth Hall, Ritchie Vilary, Joesph Secker, Ryan Fletcher, Demetrious Kiwamya.