Preview of league games to be played on 13/14 August

 

Appleby Frodingham could take a step closer to retaining their title with a win at the Al-Murad stadium, but Elsecar need the points at least as much as their visitors in order to secure their Premier League place. The leaders’ nearest challengers are at home to Sheffield Collegiate, who halted a three-match losing run at home to Doncaster Town last week, and will want to end the season on a high. Third-placed Wakefield Thornes, buoyed by their remarkable comeback at home to Barnsley Woolley Miners last week, make the trip to the coast to play a Cleethorpes side that still need at least one more win to banish their relegation fears. Barnsley themselves will want to bounce back with a win at Whiston, that could all but condemn the Church Fields side to an immediate return to the Championship. But that would depend on wins for Elsecar and Cawthorne, the latter of whom host Doncaster Town at Dark Lane; whilst current form makes this game very difficult to predict, there is no doubt that Cawthorne need the points more. Finally, Treeton are at home to Whitley Hall, and could leapfrog their visitors with a win that would go a long way to ensuring their safety. 

 

 

Leaders Aston Hall are on an amazing run of form at present, and on paper will be strong favourites to record their 13th consecutive win when they host Wath – but whilst the Moor Road side may have had a disappointing season, they are capable of beating anyone on their day, and cannot be underestimated. Second-placed Hallam are at home to Houghton Main, who arrested a run of four consecutive defeats at home to Sprotbrough last week, but confidence is high at Crimicar at the moment, and the home side will be looking for a fifth consecutive win. Hot on the heels of Hallam are Wickersley Old Village, and it would be a surprise if they do not keep up the pressure with a win over Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds at Shaw Lane. At the other end of the table, Green Moor have narrowed the gap to safety to 30 points with their win last week, but they realistically need to win at least four of their last five and hope that Barnsley win only one of theirs to have a survival chance – they will see their home game with Sprotbrough as ‘must win’. Rockingham Colliery are away to Conisbrough, and will almost certainly be relegated if they lose and Barnsley win. Finally, in a game with little but pride at stake, an interesting tussle can still be expected at Abbeydale, where Shiregreen are the visitors. 

 

 

Doncaster Town 2nds and Darfield 2nds remain locked in a battle for the title at the top of Division 1, where they are separated by just four points. Tomorrow, leaders Town host relegation-threatened Coal Aston while Darfield travel to play mid-table Wakefield Thornes 2nds. Meanwhile, third-placed Upper Haugh can keep their promotion hopes alive when they play host to bottom team Warmsworth. In the bottom three, second-bottom Sheffield Collegiate 3rds will travel to mid-table Whitley Hall 2nds, whilst South Kirkby could move out of the danger zone with a win at home to Rotherham if Coal Aston were to lose at Doncaster. Finally, Sheffield United travel to seventh-placed Oughtibridge War Memorial, who will hope to continue their recent revival. 

 

 

Ackworth sit some 30 points clear at the top of Division 2 and one more win will guarantee promotion, but they face a tough test this weekend when third-placed Hallam 2nds come to town. An Ackworth win would open the door for fourth-placed Treeton 2nds to move back into the promotion places if they can win away to Hatfield Town. Meanwhile, Wickerslsey Old Village 2nds should maintain their second place when they entertain second-bottom Thorpe Hesley & High Green. At the bottom, Caribbean Sports are away at Norton Woodseats, who still need the points to keep clear of the relegation places, whilst fellow strugglers Monk Bretton entertain mid-table Penistone. Elsewhere, fifth plays sixth as Aston Hall 2nds go to Norton Oakes. 

 

 

There’s a big game for Wath 2nds this weekend, when they look to keep up their Division 3 promotion bid at home to second-placed Tickhill 2nds, but the final top three spot is currently occupied by Parkhead, who host second-bottom Thorncliffe & Wentworth. Runaway leaders Elsecar 2nds play away at mid-table Kexborough. It remains tight at the bottom as Bradfield Village Fellowship will look to pull away from danger at home to bottom club Whiston Parish Church 2nds. Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds sit just four points behind Bradfield and they play away to Frecheville Community in mid-table. Worsbrough Bridge, just 12 points outside the relegation zone, could still be pulled into the mire as well and will hope for an important win at fifth-placed Sprotbrough 2nds. 

 

 

There is a massive game at the top of Division 4 this weekend as league leaders Millhouses Works welcome second-placed Stocksbridge – just 12 points behind them. The inevitable dropping of points will be added motivation for teams below them as third and fourth placed clubs, Higham and Handsworth Junior SC play away to strugglers Whiston Forge and Shiregreen 2nds respectively. Meanwhile, bottom club Maltby Miners Welfare play host to fifth-placed Cawthorne 2nds, whilst the two clubs immediately above the relegation places, Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds and Silkstone United, play away games against mid table sides Rockingham 2nds and Sheffield Collegiate 4ths, as they look to climb further from danger. 

 

 

Fishlake have the chance to catch up with Division 5’s top three as they play host to third-placed Upper Haugh 2nds in the division’s game of the day. This could also open up the opportunity for the top two to further strengthen their position; Wombwell Main go to mid-table Rotherham Town 2nds and Doncaster Town 3rds entertain relegation-threatened Hallam 3rds. A Hallam loss would be good news for Sheffield University Staff, who could climb out of the bottom three with a win away to mid-table Coal Aston 2nds. Norton Oakes 2nds will certainly be relegated if they lose away to Darfield 2nds and Mexborough Athletic will also go down if they lose at home to Conisbrough 2nds and Hallam pick up any points. 

 

 

There’s a double-header for fourth-placed Wickersley 3rds as they look to put themselves firmly back in the promotion race with games away to leaders Sheffield United 2nds and at home to relegation-threatened Green Moor 2nds. Third-placed Whitley Hall 3rds will be looking nervously over their shoulders when they play away to Handsworth Junior SC 2nds. Elsewhere, in mid-table, Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds go to Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds; whilst relegated Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths play host to Sprotbrough 3rds, who need the points to keep clear of the relegation places. 

 

 

Second plays third this weekend when Higham 2nds play host to Ackworth 2nds, with the gap between the two currently 34 points. League leaders Brookhouse will defend their season’s 100% record when they host mid-table Harley. Just above the relegation places, Eden Grove Parklands have a good opportunity to move away from danger with a win in over second-bottom Monk Bretton 2nds, who will be relegated if they lose. Mexborough Athletic 2nds will also be desperate for a win at bottom team Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds, for whom defeat would also spell relegation. Meanwhile, fourth plays fifth as Millhouses Works 2nds go to Warmsworth 2nds. 

 

 

Hatfield 2nds remain head and shoulders above the rest in Division 8 and travel to mid-table Silkstone United 2nds. Below them, second-placed Houghton Main 2nds host Rockingham 3rds, who still have promotion hopes; and third-placed Stocksbridge 2nds play host to relegated Fishlake 2nds. Elsewhere, relegation-threatened Dearne go to mid-table Worsbrough Bridge 2nds. On Sunday, fourth-placed Doncaster Town 4ths will seek to keep up their promotion bid when they play away to Wath 3rds, who are just 12 points above the relegation places. 

 

 

The top two play each other in Division 9 this weekend, when leaders Adwick-le-Street go to Wombwell Main 2nds with the gap between the two being twelve points. Third-placed Upper Haugh 3rds will seek to take advantage when they play at home to mid-table Brookhouse 2nds. Meanwhile, Hampole & Skelbrooke will entertain Whiston Forge 2nds, with Sheffield United 3rds playing Kexborough 2nds on Sunday. 

 

Fixtures 

 

League tables