Preview of games to be played on 3 & 4 September

 

With the league championship decided, there is one issue to be resolved this weekend, which is the second relegation place. Currently, Elsecar occupy tenth spot, ten points above Cawthorne in the relegation zone. An Elsecar win, or any bonus points, from their game at home to bottom side Whiston Parish Church, would be enough to ensure their place in the Premier Division in 2023. But if Elsecar fail to pick up any points, Cawthorne could still avoid relegation if they win their game away to third-placed Tickhill. Elsewhere, champions Appleby Frodingham can celebrate receiving their championship trophy at Brumby Hall with a win over local rivals Cleethorpes, themselves free of relegation worries thanks to their excellent win over Tickhill last week. Wakefield Thornes can cement second place with a victory against Whitley Hall at Baxter Field; Barnsley Woolley Miners can ensure that they improve on last year’s fifth place by beating Doncaster Town at Shaw Lane; whilst Sheffield Collegiate and Treeton, neither of whom has enjoyed as successful a season as they would have hoped, face each other at Abbeydale, knowing that if Barnsley slip up at Shaw Lane, the winner will still finish in the top four. 

 

 

Now that Aston Hall are confirmed as the division’s champions, the issue at the top of the table is who will join them in promotion to the Premier Division. Hallam will secure their promotion if they beat Green Moor at Chapel Lane, but the home side have everything to play for, as wins from their last two games could still see them escape relegation. If Hallam are beaten, a win for Wickersley Old Village at home to Houghton Main will see the fight for the second promotion spot go into the final week. Similarly, defeat for Green Moor will confirm their relegation, as would four points or more for Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds at Aston Hall. But if Green Moor win, and Barnsley pick up no more than two points, this battle will also go on into the final weekend. Elsewhere, Shiregreen will cement fourth place if they beat relegated Rockingham Colliery; Sprotbrough and Sheffield Collegiate 2nds will battle for mid-table places at Melton Road; and Wath will hope to end a disappointing season on a high by winning their last two games, starting at home to Conisbrough. 

 

 

It is second versus third this weekend in Division 1, as Doncaster Town 2nds host Upper Haugh, the two sides vying for one promotion slot. A win for the home side would secure their promotion, but if the visitors win, they could narrow the gap to four points, and it will all go down to the last games. League leaders Darfield can clinch the divisional championship with a win at home to Oughtibridge War Memorial. At the bottom, four teams continue to fight it out for one place of safety. Coal Aston currently hold that place with a four-point gap to their opponents tomorrow, South Kirkby, whilst in another huge game, bottom side Sheffield Collegiate 3rds play second bottom Warmsworth. Elsewhere, Wakefield Thornes 2nds host Whitley Hall 2nds and Rotherham Town go to Sheffield United. 

 

 

Whilst Ackworth have now claimed the Division 2 championship, there is an intriguing battle going on below them. Wickersley Old Village 2nds can seal promotion if they win at Norton Woodseats, but below them three teams seem to be fighting to finish in third place. There are only four points between Aston Hall 2nds, Hallam 2nds and Treeton 2nds, and they all need to win to maintain promotion hopes – Aston Hall 2nds, who are away to one of the relegated clubs, Thorpe Hesley & High Green, are two points ahead of Hallam 2nds, who are at home to mid-table Penistone, who in turn are two points ahead of Treeton 2nds, and the latter have a tough game at home to champions Ackworth. Elsewhere, Hatfield Town host Norton Oakes, and two relegated clubs, Caribbean Sports and Monk Bretton, meet at the Common. 

 

 

The fight for promotion now boils down to a scrap between Parkhead and Wath 2nds, with the former holding a six-point advantage. Parkhead host relegation-battlers Bradfield Village Fellowship, whilst Wath go to another side in the relegation scrap, second-bottom Thorncliffe & Wentworth. Champions Elsecar 2nds play away to relegated Whiston Parish Church 2nds and second-placed Tickhill 2nds, assured of promotion, are at Worsbrough Bridge, who are still not safe from relegation. 16 points separate Worsbrough, Bradfield, Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds, and Thorncliffe, and all still need the points to ensure safety. Oughtibridge are at home to Sprotbrough 2nds. Elsewhere, in mid-table, Kexborough are away to Frecheville Community. 

 

 

At the top of the division, a win for Stocksbridge at home to promotion-contenders Handsworth Junior SC will guarantee them the divisional championship, and second-placed Millhouses Works will confirm their promotion if they win away to Sheffield Collegiate 4ths on Sunday. Higham currently hold third place by four points from Cawthorne 2nds and Handsworth, and they travel to play Cawthorne at Dark Lane in a massive game. At the other end of the table, Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds and Shiregreen 2nds continue to battle it out over one position of safety. Barnsley hold an eight-point advantage, and they welcome relegated Maltby Miners Welfare, while Shiregreen 2nds play away to mid-table Rockingham Colliery 2nds. Elsewhere, Silkstone United host relegated Whiston Forge. 

 

 

Leaders Wombwell Main will win the Division 5 championship if they beat mid-table Darfield 2nds at home. Second-placed Upper Haugh 2nds, level on points with Doncaster Town 3rds but with a game in hand on them, are at home to relegation-threatened Hallam 3rds; they need the win because if the two clubs finish level, it will be Doncaster that go up in the second promotion place. The relegation battle is between Hallam and Sheffield University Staff, six points from safety below them, both aiming to avoid finishing in tenth place. The University Staff need to win away to Norton Oakes 2nds to ensure they take the battle to the last games. Elsewhere, relegated Mexborough Athletic will host fourth-placed Fishlake and in mid-table, Coal Aston 2nds will make the trip to Park Road to play Conisbrough 2nds. 

 

 

With Sheffield United 2nds confirmed as Division 6 champions, Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds, Penistone 2nds and Wickersley Old Village 3rds continue to battle it out for the seconds promotion slot. Thorpe Hesley currently have a two-point advantage, and are away to Handsworth Junior SC 2nds; Penistone in third will play their final game of the season at home to champions Sheffield United; and Wickersley, four points behind Penistone, are away to Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds. Both Thorpe Hesley and Wickersley will still have another game to play. There are still two relegation places to be decided, with Sprotbrough 3rds and Green Moor 2nds the current occupants – these two face each other at Melton Road, and both have another game left. There is then a 16-point gap from Sprotbrough to the first of three clubs who are still not mathematically safe from the drop. Caribbean Sports 2nds can guarantee their safety with a win over Whitley Hall 3rds at the nearby Civil Service club. Bradfield and Handsworth are six points above Caribbean, and would also ensure safety with wins, Handsworth having another chance next week. An added complication in this division is that Wickersley were awarded 12 points and Green Moor had 24 points deducted after the result in the game between the two was overturned, and this decision is subject to appeal. 

 

 

There is just one promotion place up for grabs in Division 7 – champions Brookhouse and second-placed Higham already being assured of their places. But Ackworth 2nds and Warmsworth 2nds are separated by just two points in the battle for third; Ackworth 2nds host Brookhouse and Warmsworth will travel to play Eden Grove Parklands, who are still not completely safe from relegation. There is one relegation place still to be decided, and it is currently occupied by Mexborough Athletic, who are 16 points behind Eden Grove, and must win away to Millhouses Works 2nds to keep their survival hopes alive. Elsewhere, Higham 2nds host relegated Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds and, in mid-table, Harley will host Frecheville Community 2nds. 

 

 

The promotion issues in Division 8 are resolved – champions Hatfield Town 2nds going up with Houghton Main 2nds and Stocksbridge 2nds. The one outstanding issue is who will be relegated with Dearne and Fishlake 2nds. Scholes currently occupy that relegation place, and are 26 points behind Silkstone United 2nds, but they have three games to play, so are not down and out yet. On Saturday, they are at home to mid-table Worsbrough Bridge 2nds. However, a win for Silkstone away to another mid-table side, Rockingham Colliery 3rds, would settle the issue in favour of the Silkstone club. Elsewhere, there are two potentially very good games between Houghton Main and Stocksbridge at Middlecliffe Lane; and at Finningley where Doncaster Town 4ths play host to Hatfield. 

 

 

Adwick-le-Street can win the Division 9 championship if they beat Whiston Forge away – but the Forge still have an outside chance of sneaking into the third promotion spot if they win their last three games. Wombwell Main 2nds are currently second, but Upper Haugh 3rds, 14 points behind them, have a game in hand. Wombwell will seal promotion if they win away to mid-table Brookhouse 2nds, whilst Upper Haugh will be almost there if they beat bottom club Sheffield United 3rds, even if Forge do win both their games this weekend – the second being at Sheffield United on Sunday. Elsewhere, Kexborough 2nds are at home to Eden Grove Parklands 2nds, and Hampole & Skelbrooke host Rockingham Colliery 4ths. 

 

League tables