Preview of games on 9 July

 

There is a top-three clash at Alderson Drive, where leaders Tickhill host Wakefield Thornes, hoping to gain revenge for a narrow early-season defeat at Field Lane. Appleby Frodingham are just four points behind Tickhill, and host Doncaster Town, who have lost their last two league outings, and have dropped out of the top half of the table. Fourth-placed Sheffield Collegiate visit bottom club Whiston Parish Church looking to complete a league double and keep alive their championship hopes. Whitley Hall and Barnsley Woolley Miners are level on points in joint-fifth place and meet at Baxter Field, where the Barnsley side, who have won six of their last seven, will seek to redress their earlier home defeat against Whitley and consolidate their top-half place. Cleethorpes home win over Elsecar in April set them off on a three-match winning run, but they visit the Al Murad tomorrow in the relegation places with only one win in their last eight, whilst Elsecar are fresh from their fine win over Wakefield Thornes last week. Finally, Treeton will be looking to build on wins in their last two games and gain revenge over their visitors Cawthorne for their April defeat at Dark Lane. 

 

 

Conisbrough had won three on the trot before last week’s reverse at home to Sheffield Collegiate, and they now visit leaders Aston Hall, who have so far lost only once this season, at Green Lane. Second-placed Hallam, whose promotion place is under threat from Wickersley Old Village and Houghton Main, will visit Abbeydale for a game against Collegiate 2nds that might have appeared more straightforward a few weeks ago. Neither of the chasing two have easy games though, as Wickersley visit fifth-placed Shiregreen and Houghton Main go to Wath, who will hope to repeat their win in the game at Middlecliffe Lane in April. Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds are at home to Sprotbrough, the two sides having contrasting fortunes last week – Barnsley being well-beaten at Crimicar whilst Sprotbrough had a fine win over Shiregreen. The sides are separated by 16 points, but Barnsley need the points more, in order to keep clear of the bottom two clubs Green Moor and Rockingham Colliery. These two meet at Chapel Lane, with only three wins between them, and both badly needing the points if they are to avoid the drop. 

 

 

The gap at the top of Division 1 was cut to just two points last weekend as Doncaster Town 2nds lost to Rotherham Town. This time around, the league leaders host relegation-threatened South Kirkby, looking to bounce back and with Darfield hot on their tails. Darfield play away at third-placed Upper Haugh in the division's match-of-the-day with the home side aiming to narrow the 26-point gap to the promotion places above them. In the relegation zone, Warmsworth and Sheffield Collegiate 3rds have away games against Sheffield United and Coal Aston respectively; whilst Oughtibridge War Memorial have a home fixture against Whitley Hall 2nds. 

 

 

Ackworth won emphatically last weekend to keep their eight-point cushion at the top of Division 2. This weekend they will entertain seventh-placed Norton Oakes. There is, however, a huge game taking place below them as second and third meet, with Wickersley Old Village 2nds hosting Treeton 2nds and hoping to extend the 22-point gap between them. A loss for Treeton could open the door for fourth-placed Aston Hall, who sit just two points behind them, and who travel to play struggling Caribbean Sports. Elsewhere, the bottom two both have away fixtures, with Thorpe Hesley & High Green going to fifth-placed Hallam 2nds; whilst Monk Bretton are at Norton Woodseats in eighth. Finally, Hatfield Town will play host to Penistone with the teams in ninth and sixth places respectively. 

 

 

Elsecar 2nds remain the team to beat in Division 3, and their 100% record sees them 22 points clear at the top. The latest team to try and stop the runaway train are struggling Thorncliffe & Wentworth, who have a home game against the leaders. Tickhill 2nds are doing well to stay within touching distance of the league leaders, and their latest game comes at mid-table Frecheville Community. In the bottom three, Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds have a trip to play Bradfield Village Fellowship in eighth place, whilst Worsbrough Bridge play host to Whiston Parish Church 2nds, who are just six points above the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Sprotbrough 2nds will look to maintain their promotion place at home to Kexborough in fifth place; whilst fourth-placed Wath 2nds, just four points off the promotion places, are at mid-table Parkhead. 

 

 

Millhouses Works were stunned by Shiregreen 2nds last weekend, and saw their lead at the top of Division 4 cut to two points. They will look to bounce straight back at home to mid-table Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds. Below them, second-placed Stocksbridge will travel to third-placed Cawthorne 2nds in a crucial fixture, with the gap between the two being 14 points. Higham will travel to Rockingham Colliery 2nds in a fascinating fourth against fifth encounter, with both sides still harbouring promotion hopes. Out of the bottom three teams, only Whiston Forge play this weekend and they travel to Sheffield Collegiate 4ths looking to bridge the six-point gap to safety. Silkstone United are the team they are chasing down, and they have a home fixture against Handsworth Junior SC. 

 

 

Wombwell Main remain top of Division 5 with an 18-point cushion and a game in hand on Doncaster Town 3rds below them. This time around, both teams have away fixtures; Wombwell go to fouth-placed Fishlake, who are just ten points off the promotion places, whilst Doncaster play at mid-table Darfield 2nds. Third-placed Upper Haugh 2nds are just eight points behind Doncaster, and they visit relegation-threatened Norton Oakes 2nds. Fellow strugglers Mexborough Athletic have a home game against mid-table Coal Aston 2nds; whilst Hallam 3rds, who are just two points from safety, are away to mid-table Consibrough 2nds. 

 

 

Sheffield United 2nds remain top of Division 6 with a 14-point cushion to the chasing pack below, and tomorrow they visit basement side Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths. The race for the second promotion spot is very tight, as second, third and fourth are separated by just six points. Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds currently occupy the promotion place but do not play, offering up opportunities for the teams below them. Third-placed Whitley Hall 3rds are at home to Wickersley Old Village 3rds in fifth; whilst fourth-placed Penistone 2nds welcome Green Moor 2nds. Caribbean 2nds and Sprotbrough 3rds currently occupy the two relegation spots above Barnsley, with the former travelling to Handsworth Junior SC 2nds and the latter entertaining Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds – Handsworth and Bardfield are currently locked together in joint-eighth place, 12 points clear of the relegation zone. 

 

 

Brookhouse’s 100% record remains intact, and they lead Division 7 by eight points, despite having played a game less than any other team. Tomorrow they are at home to second-bottom Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds. Higham 2nds occupy the second promotion spot and have a home fixture, as they welcome mid-table Frecheville Community 2nds. Elsewhere, basement club Monk Bretton 2nds play host to Mexborough Athletic 2nds, two places above them, who would climb out of the relegation spots with a win. Finally, fifth play sixth as Harley welcome Millhouses Works 2nds to Clayfields Lane. 

 

 

Hatfield Town 2nds led Division 8 by 16 points after the last round of fixtures, and will gain 12 more as tomorrow’s opponents Scholes have conceded. Doncaster Town 4ths have a game in hand below them, however, and will look to keep up the pressure as they play host to basement team, Fishlake 2nds. Dearne are just two points outside the bottom three, and they travel to fifth club Rockingham Colliery 4ths; whilst second-bottom Wath 3rds are at home to mid-table Worsbrough Bridge 2nds. Finally, Houghton Main 2nds are only two points outside the promotion places in fourth, and they play host to mid-table Silkstone United 2nds. 

 

 

There’s a huge game in Division 9 as the top two go head-to-head, with league leaders Whiston Forge 2nds hosting Adwick-le-Street at Guilthwaite Hill. The gap between the two is just six points, so we could see a new team at the top by the end of Saturday. Fourth play fifth at Hough Lane, where Wombwell Main 2nds entertain Brookhouse 2nds. Elsewhere, strugglers Eden Grove Parklands 2nds and Rockingham Colliery 4ths both have away games, travelling to Kexborough 2nds and Hampole & Skelbrooke respectively. 

 

League tables