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.