Joker FC 3-0 Penistone Church Reserves

County Senior League First Division; Saturday 22^nd February 2014

Joker FC continued their quest for the County Senior League First Division title with a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow promotion rivals Penistone Church Reserves.

The hosts, unbeaten since November, took the lead on 32 minutes. A deep free-kick was met a header from Dean Conway, who glanced into the bottom left corner.

The same players then combined for Joker and Conway’s second of the match, midway through the second half. A neat through ball from midfield was tapped into the goal by the leaders’ man of the match frontman.

With sixteen minutes to go the scoring was completed from another set-piece. A corner was met by Gareth Clayton who headed in via the crossbar for 3-0.

The scoreline, which was already harsh on Penistone, could have worsened when referee Mr Rossiter awarded the hosts a penalty, however Church’s Arran Pratt denied a weak penalty to the bottom left corner.

Joker FC are now on 40 points as a result of the victory, with second-placed Jubilee Sports five points worse off.

The home side attacked from the off. Almost immediately Jason Maxfield chipped Pratt, however Joe Baldwin cleared off the line.

At the opposite end of the field, James Tomlinson’s long range shot fell wide of the left post for Penistone’s first shot of the game.

In the 13^th minute, Gareth Clayton played a short ball to Conway, who turned and rounded the defender before his low shot towards the right of the goal was tipped round the post by the goalkeeper.

The next chance was created through a neat one-two. Maxfield to Conway and returned again, however the resulting effort was tame and straight at the goalkeeper.

The majority of the match was an end-to-end contest, as you may expect from the high league positions of the pair. For Penistone, Edward Newsome fired over the bar, before Adam Dewsnap fired wide with a half-volley following Newsome’s lob. 

On 29 minutes, Clayton’s cross found Maxfield unmarked for Joker, however the ball was blasted over the bar.

Still the hosts were rewarded for their pressure, Conway’s movement within the area evaded his marker, and the flick was accurately stroked into the corner of the goal.

 The visitor’s almost levelled within 20 seconds of the restart. Sam Cunningham found the ball at his feet in the box, but the attacker couldn’t find the target.

Clayton had a similar chance at the opposite end but blasted over from close range.

Penistone’s Jake Schofield’s free kicks showed potential many times during the game. In the 40^th minute he sent a set piece just wide of the right-hand post. 

The wind had dropped greatly for the second period, which Penistone began motivated to try and find an equaliser. James Tomlinson’s long range shot only inches over the crossbar.

For the league leaders, Maxfield played in Conway one-on-one, but his rushed shot went over. Minutes later, Maxfield headed wide from a corner.

Still Penistone persevered. Oliver Robinson found Josh Hoyland unmarked from a free-kick, but the header went over. Jake Schofield too attempted to score from distance, but his shot was kept out by Richard Bugdol in the Joker goal.

But the visitors were left to rue their misses. A through ball was poked into the goal by Conway from a one-on-one position, as the visitors switched off defensively; 2-0.

For the last twenty minutes Penistone failed to register another shot on goal. There final attempt was a long range effort from Tomlinson which was caught by Bugdol with ease.

The scoring was completed sixteen minutes from time, with a corner headed in by Clayton. This was before Conway was starved of a hat-trick by being substituted. 

The lead could have been extended but a penalty towards the bottom left corner was denied by Pratt after an infringement in the area. 

Still Joker had chances for further goals; Maxfield’s chip from a one-on-one was parried by Pratt who despite the score did not show a lapse in concentration.

Defeat for Penistone Church Reserves sees them slip to three points behind Wickerley, though they can only be promoted if the senior team do the same from the Premier Division. 

Joker FC Team: Richard Bugdol, William McClare, Danny Swales, John Hammond, Gareth Clayton, Paul Zacesm, Jonathan Morris, Season McClare, Jason Maxfield, Craig Roberts, Dean Conway. Substitutes: Phil Couthard, Paul Roberts, Oliver Dove, Phil Badger.

Penistone Church Reserves Team: Arran Pratt, Josh Hoyland, Jake Schofield, Joe Baldwin, Dexter Hobson, Edward Newsome, James Tomlinson, Adam Dewsnap, Oliver Robinson, Tim Council, Sam Cunningham.

Bawtry Town 2-4 Worsbrough Bridge Athletic Reserves

County Senior League Second Division, Saturday 8^th February 2014

Bawtry Town’s promotion ambitions were dealt a blow losing 4-2 to Worsbrough Bridge in windy conditions in Doncaster, a game which Bawtry led 2-0.

The hosts got off to a superb start. Athletic’s Sam Joyce was dispossessed by Jermaine Green, who chipped the goalkeeper, John Daniels, from the resulting one-on-one.

Joyce Jones then doubled the lead with a stunning free-kick from the left hand side of the D.

However, Worsbrough were gifted a route back into the game when a weak pass amongst the Bawtry defenders was picked up by Tom Peace inside the area, who slotted calmly into the bottom left corner.

The equaliser was secured with Jed Phillips run from deep before spotting the goalkeeper off his line and chipping into the bottom right corner, a cruel blow to Bawtry on the stroke of half time.

The turnaround was complete by Dean Sidebottom, who latched onto the end of Adam Thorpe’s throw ball. He rounded the defender and found the corner for 3-2.

The icing on the cake was sealed with Pearce’s free-kick flying into the top right corner with fifteen minutes remaining.

The result lifts Worsbrough above Kiveton Park and five points above bottom-placed Frecheville Reserves. Bawtry Town remain in the third automatic promotion place but AFC Dronfield have reduced their lead to two points.

Jermaine Green’s opener came when he muscled Sam Joyce off the ball before lobbing the keeper and sending the ball into the back of the net. 1-0 to Bawtry.

Athletic’s Adam Thorpe then came close when he was put through one-on-one, but sent his shot wide of the target.

Tom Peace had his own one-on-one a moment later intercepting captain Leigh Wells pass, but too sent wide. For Bawtry, Sam Weston’s long range effort failed to challenge Daniels.

Soon after Joyce Jones’ fantastic free-kick flew into the net to send the hosts 2-0 up. Bawtry were surely over the line?

Worsbrough though refused to give up. Tom Peace took advantage of sloppy defending at the back, before finding the corner of the goal on 39 minutes.

Bawtry had opportunities to extend their lead. Takrem Shah beat the offside trap but rushed the shot over the bar.

But Bawtry’s miss turned to haunt them as on the stroke of half time Worsbrough were level. Athletic’s Jed Phillips with the excellent run before chipping the keeper to finish.

Their comeback had given the visitors the edge and from then on they created the majority of the chances. Adam Thorpe, Daniel Foster and Jed Phillips all failed to hit the target with efforts from outside the box.

At the opposite end of the field Bawtry almost retook the lead, but John Daniels was forced into action to parry Shah’s shot wide.

However once more they were forced to rue the miss. Dean Sidebottom dribbled beyond Steven Minshall and finished with precision. 3-2.

Adam Thorpe was denied by Gary Hudson as the visitors pushed to end the contest.

Still Worsbrough pressed; Adam Barker was played through on the overlap, but the goalkeeper made another good save. Within two minutes Hudson was again forced to deny Phillips’ free-kick.

Bawtry’s final chance of an equaliser came in the 64^th minute. Shah cut in from the right, but his shot was straight at Daniels.

But from then on there was only one likely winner. Sidebottom shot over from range with Phillips and Peace also missing the target before the game’s climax. 

However the game was put beyond doubt with five minutes remaining. Peace’s stunning free-kick, from a similar position to Bawtry’s in the early stages, finalising a 4-2 victory.

The defeat was Bawtry’s first since November, but they are still well placed in their promotion push.

Bawtry Town Team: Gary Hudson, Alex Hickey, Simon Minshall, Steven Minshall, Leigh Wells, Jermaine Green, Josh Blenkiron, Joyce Jones, Takrem Shah, Daniel Harper, Sam Weston. Substitutes: Phil Colton, Alex Wharton, Marco Battaglia, Ben Gillatt.

Worsbrough Bridge Athletic Reserves Team: John Daniels, Adam Barker, Sam Joyce, Matt Savage, Josh Evans, Mark Fitzpatrick, Daniel Foster, Jed Phillips, Adam Thorpe, Dean Sidebottom, Tom Pearce. Substitutes: Liam Price, Sam Keen, Jack Jones, Rob Peace.

Bawtry Town Under 21’s 0-3 Swallownest Miners Welfare Under 21’s

County Senior League Under 21 Division, Saturday 8^th February 2014

Swallownest extended their winning run to ten games with a deserved victory over Bawtry Town at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Welfare took the lead on eight minutes. Alex Nightingale’s deep cross was netted by Josh Thomas on the half-volley, with the shot rocketed into the top right corner.

The lead was doubled by Alex Lill who cut inside from the right and slotted a one-on-one into the bottom left hand corner.

Midway through the first half Brodie Cooper switched onto his left foot before an attempting a cheeky chip which hit the bar, following Nightingale’s corner.

Lill then doubled his tally, breaking through one-on-one and controlling the ball in mid-flight before rounding the goalkeeper and sending a low shot into the goal; 3-0.

Lill came close to his hat-trick when he weaved right then left between defenders before hitting his shot against the post with three minutes of time remaining. 

Bawtry had few clear cut chances, Maca Kentish challenged Josh Lill in the opening stages, one of few occasions the Swallownest goalkeeper was forced into a save. Later Zach Allen sent a free-kick just over after 85 minutes which was arguably the closest the hosts came to scoring. 

The result means that Swallownest haven’t suffered a league defeat since 28^th September 2013 and edge closer to the league title. Bawtry Town, on the other hand, remain under pressure to avoid bottom position in the division.  

Bawtry’s performance was organised however their poor decision making in the final third consequently cost them dear. However this didn’t become obvious from the first whistle, with Kentish’s free kick denied by Lill after two minutes.

But Bawtry were powerless to deny Welfare’s wonderful opener. Nightingale’s cross from the left was met by Thomas at the far post. He connected powerfully to open the scoring.

Buoyed by the opener Swallownest pushed for a second. Nightingale drilled in from the right hand side but Hish Khaliq cleared off the line.

Jay Atkins then crossed for Nightingale who controlled neatly onto his left foot but couldn’t convert the following effort.

Still Swallownest pressed for a second and Alex Lill delivered with an individual strike, cutting in from the wing and converting with just the keeper to beat.

One minute later, another Welfare chance. Nightingale’s corner eventually falling to Ryan Hall whose header was cleared off the line.

Lill almost made it 3-0, but his shot from inside the box was deflected over the crossbar.

Alex Nightingale’s corner then found Brodie Cooper whose left footed shot was denied by the woodwork.

Alex Lill was then denied by Luke Wikinson however with the keeper grounded Lill reacted quicker, but couldn’t find the finish with his rebound.

Atkins long range shot which flew over the crossbar concluded the half at 2-0.

In the second half, Jack Hutchinson’s shot inside the penalty area went wide of the right post. 

Cooper was denied by the crossbar a second time on seventy-three minutes, powerfully shooting after Lill’s pull back. This was prior to Lill and Hutchinson sending efforts wide of target.

With four minutes of time remaining the game was sealed through Lill. The attacker controlled the ball in the air before rounded the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the bottom corner for 3-0.

Lill was unlucky not to get his hat-trick when turning onto his left before shooting against the post with Wilkinson beaten.

Bawtry Town Under 21’s Team: Luke Wilkinson, Hish Khaliq, Henry Beaumont, Luke Gray, George Dean, Peter Shirley, Marco Battaglia, Zach Allen, Luke Watson, Jack Hodgkinson, Ian Love. Substitutes: Dave Goodman, Maca Kentish.

Swallownest Miners Welfare Under 21’s Team: Josh Lill, Jack Farrow, Jason Marshall, Alex Nightingale, Jack Hutchinson, Brodie Cooper, Alex Lill, Jack Simmonte, Jay Atkins, Josh Thomas, Ryan Hall. Substitutes: John Baines, Harry Johnstone, Chris Darius, Brad Matthewson, Sam Drury.