Preview of games to be played on 2 & 3 July

 

Leaders Appleby Frodingham go to Shaw Lane to play Barnsley Woolley Miners with both teams having won five of their last six games, so a close-run encounter is expected in a repeat of one of just three games the Steelmen lost on their way to their title in 2021. There is a local derby at Town Fields, where second-placed Tickhill are the visitors in as game in which Doncaster Town will want to claim revenge for their opening day defeat. Third placed Wakefield Thornes will hope to quickly get back on the winning track after last week’s loss at Brumby Hall when they face bottom-four club Elsecar at Field Lane. Sheffield Collegiate, who have only once won successive games this season, have not lost two games running either, and will not want to start now as the seek revenge for their opening day defeat against Whitley Hall at Baxter Field. Treeton beat Cleethorpes at home on the opening day, but since then both sides have had mixed fortunes – Cleethorpes will hope to end a four-game losing run and pull clear of the relegation zone. Finally, bottom side Whiston Parish Church go to fellow-strugglers Cawthorne, whom they beat comfortably on the opening day. 

 

 

There is the classic ‘bottom against top’ fixture at Hoyland Common, where Championship leaders Aston Hall take a six-match winning run to Rockingham, who have won only twice in the first half of the season. Second-placed Hallam are at home to Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds, who, after a bright start, have now won only once in five games. Third-placed Wickersley Old Village play host to the always dangerous Wath side, who will want to avenge their opening day defeat at Moor Road. Shiregreen have been a surprise package this season, and they will be favourites to beat Sprotbrough, who have lost their last four, at Melton Road. Houghton Main have won only one of their last three, but they will be confident of keeping in the promotion hunt when bottom club Green Moor visit Middlecliffe Lane. Finally, Conisbrough are decent form at the moment, and will be hoping to halt Sheffield Collegiate’s recent revival when the clubs meet at St Peter’s Drive. 

 

 

Doncaster Town 2nds are going into July ten points clear at the top of Division 1. They play away at mid-table Rotherham Town this weekend looking to keep it that way, while second-placed Darfield are at home to Sheffield United, who still have promotion hopes, in fourth place. Third-placed Upper Haugh need to make up some ground if they are to keep up their hopes of promotion, their latest fixture comes at Whitley Hall 2nds, who are only two places and six points below them. In the relegation zone, both Sheffield Collegiate 3rds and Warmsworth have home games, against Wakefield Thornes 2nds and Coal Aston respectively; whilst basement team Oughtibridge are at mid-table South Kirkby. 

 

 

Wickersley Old Village 2nds were knocked off the top of Division 2 last week, and their opponents, Ackworth, replaced them. This weekend, the new league leaders face strugglers Monk Bretton, while Wickersley have a tough trip to fifth-placed Norton Oakes. Third-placed Treeton 2nds are hot on the heels of the promotion places and will host mid-table Hallam 2nds. At the opposite end of the table, the bottom two play each other, with both desperate for a result as Caribbean travel to Thorpe Hesley & High Green. Elsewhere, Fourth-placed Aston Hall 2nds entertain Hatfield Town, and Norton Woodseats are away at Penistone. 

 

 

Elsecar 2nds still hold a perfect record in Division 3, and they will host mid-table Frecheville Community this weekend. Behind them, the promotion battle is tight and the game between second-placed Tickhill 2nds and fourth-placed Parkhead is the pick of the division’s programme; whilst third-placed Sprotbrough 2nds play away to Wath 2nds in another intriguing game. At the other end of the table, the bottom two play each other, with Worsbrough Bridge travelling to Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds. Whiston Parish Church 2nds make up the rest of the bottom three and they entertain Thorncliffe & Wentworth, who need the win to pull away from the relegation zone. Kexborough and Bradfield Village Fellowship both sit comfortably in mid-table and make up the final fixture of the weekend at Bence Lane. 

 

 

Millhouses Works and Stocksbridge remain the pacesetters in Division 4, and both will be confident in their Saturday games. The former will travel to basement side, Shiregreen 2nds, while the latter play host to eighth-placed Silkstone. In the promotion-chasing pack, both third-placed Rockingham Colliery 2nds and Cawthorne 2nds in fourth have away fixtures against Handsworth Junior SC in ninth and mid-table Barnsley Woolley Miners respectively. Fifth and sixth meet at Royd Lane, where Higham host Sheffield Collegiate 4ths.The other two teams in the relegation zone will meet, as Maltby Miners Welfare travel to Whiston Forge. 

 

 

Wombwell Main are still the team to catch in Division 5 after a thumping victory last time out, and their latest game comes at home to second-bottom Norton Oakes 2nds. Last week, second-placed Upper Haugh 2nds lost ground when they were beaten by the leaders, but they will hope to bounce back at home to mid-table Conisbrough 2nds. Doncaster Town 3rds and Fishlake are joint-third, just two points behind Upper Haugh, and the two meet in a very intriguing game at Finningley. At the bottom, the other two teams in the relegation places will go head-to-head as Mexborough Athletic are away to Sheffield University Staff. Hallam 3rds host Rotherham 2nds, who are still in the promotion race in fifth; whilst Darfield 2nds are at Coal Aston 2nds in the final fixture. 

 

 

There is a real battle at the top this weekend in Division 6, as Sheffield United 2nds host Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds, with the winner guaranteed top spot. This gives Whitley Hall 3rds a perfect opportunity to make up ground when they travel to Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds. The teams in fourth and fifth places meet, as Penistone 2nds will travel to Wickersley Old Village 3rds, with both sides needing the win to keep their promotion hopes alive. There is yet another relegation battle at the opposite end of the table, as the bottom two – Caribbean Sports 2nds and Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths meet at the Common. Elsewhere, Green Moor 2nds have the chance to move further clear of relegation as they entertain mid-table Handsworth Junior SC 2nds. 

 

 

Division 7 leaders Brookhouse remain one of just two teams in the League with a 100% record, but they have a weekend off this time around, giving other teams a chance to narrow the gap. Second-placed Higham 2nds are at strugglers Mexborough 2nds while, in third, Ackworth 2nds play host to fifth-placed Harley. At the bottom, basement club Monk Bretton 2nds are at mid-table Millhouses Works 2nds; whilst Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds play host to Warmsworth 2nds, who need the points to keep in the promotion hint, in fourth. To wrap up the weekend’s proceedings, Frecheville Community 2nds will welcome Eden Grove Parklands. 

 

 

It is tight at the top of Division 8 and current league leaders, Hatfield Town 2nds, are at home to third-placed Houghton Main 2nds this weekend. A win could take Houghton Main to the top, as second-placed Doncaster Town 4ths have no game. Fourth-placed Stocksbridge 2nds, who are still in the hunt, travel to play the team one place and ten points below them, Worsbrough Bridge 2nds. In the relegation places, both the bottom two, Dearne and Fishlake 2nds, have home fixtures against mid-table sides in Scholes and Rockingham 3rds respectively. Just two points above Dearne are Wath 3rds, who have a tough test at Silkstone United 2nds, who won handsomely against Scholes last time out. 

 

 

The top team in Division 9, Whiston Forge 2nds, do not play tomorrow, which gives second-placed Adwick-le-Street the chance to make up ground at home to Kexborough 2nds., will play away at Third-placed side Upper Haugh 3rds will host mid-table Hampole & Skelbrooke. Both Eden Grove Parklands and Brookhouse 2nds will enjoy double-headers this weekend as they meet at Parklands on Sunday. Both have home fixtures on Saturday; the former host Wombwell Main 2nds whilst the latter entertain Sheffield United 3rds, fresh from their first win of the season last time out.