Preview of league games to be played on 20 & 21 August

 

Leaders Appleby Frodingham will hope to return to winning ways at Brumby Hall against relegated Whiston Parish Church, who have won only one of their last nine, whilst their nearest challengers, Tickhill, face a Treeton side at Alderson Drive that have won six of their last eight and are in seventh place, but still need at least one more win to be sure of Premier Division safety. Wakefield Thornes are third, six points behind Tickhill, and need to win their last four games, hoping that the two above them will implode – they travel to Town Fields to face a Doncaster side that also need another win to be absolutely safe. Barnsley Woolley Miners are in fourth place, and are at home to Cleethorpes, just eight points above the relegation places, who will be desperate for the points. Sheffield Collegiate host Elsecar at Abbeydale, the latter being just two points above the relegation places, and fighting for their Premier Division lives. Cawthorne currently occupy the second relegation place, and will see their visit to Baxter Field as ‘must win’; whilst the home side have won only twice in their last ten and are in real danger of being sucked into the relegation battle. 

 

 

Runaway leaders Aston Hall go to mid-table Sprotbrough, who won only three times in the first half of the season, but have already won five in the second; if Aston Hall win, and either Hallam or Wickersley Old Village drop points, Aston’s promotion will be confirmed. Hallam will have a difficult task when they visit Shiregreen who have had a fine season on their return to this level. Wickersley, who are just six points behind Hallam, have won seven of their last eight and are at home to mid-table Conisbrough; they need to just keep winning to maintain the pressure on Hallam. At the other end of the table, bottom club Rockingham Colliery are away to Houghton Main, who are now out of promotion contention; the Colliery will be relegated if they lose. Green Moor can only survive in the division if they can catch Barnsley Woolley Miners 2nds, who are 32 points ahead of them. They will need to beat Sheffield Collegiate 2nds, who have had a mixed season and are currently eighth, and hope that Barnsley lose at Wath, so that they can fight another day. 

 

 

Division 1’s top two look set for promotion as they head into the last few games of the season, but they play each other tomorrow, when Darfield host to league leaders Doncaster Town 2nds. The inevitable dropping of points will offer extra incentive for third-placed Upper Haugh, who go to Coal Aston looking to stage one last promotion push. Coal Aston themselves are fighting for safety, sitting just two points behind ninth-placed South Kirkby, who are away to bottom side Warmsworth. Sheffield Collegiate 3rds are currently second bottom, with their game coming at home to Rotherham Town. Elsewhere, Sheffield United will entertain Whitley Hall 2nds and Oughtibridge War Memorial will travel to Wakefield Thornes 2nds. 

 

 

The Division 2 title is all but Ackworth’s, who are assured of promotion, sitting 30 points clear heading into this weekend’s fixtures. Their latest game comes away at Hatfield Town, while second-placed Wickersley Old Village 2nds are looking fairly comfortable and travel to play Caribbean Sports. There does, however, remain an intriguing fight for third place, as Hallam 2nds and Treeton 2nds are separated by just two points in third and fourth. Their latest games both come at home; Hallam playing Norton Oakes and Treeton entertaining Norton Woodseats. Fifth-placed Aston Hall 2nds also remain in the fight, and they play host to mid-table Penistone. In the relegation zone, Monk Bretton have a 14-point gap to close to reach safety, and their game tomorrow is away to basement team Thorpe Hesley & High Green. 

 

 

Like Division 2, Division 3’s top two seem to have their places wrapped up heading into the closing stages of the season. There is, however, an intriguing fixture this weekend as the two play each other with promoted Elsecar 2nds, who have lost just once this season, hosting Tickhill 2nds. The teams are unlikely to be displaced from their current positions, but third-placed Parkhead will maintain hopes of catching the high-fliers if they win away to Oughtibridge War Memorial 2nds. Elsewhere, both Wath 2nds and Sprotbrough 2nds have outside chances of promotion, and they play away games at Frecheville Community and Whiston Parish Church 2nds respectively. Towards the bottom, Bradfield Village Fellowship will look to move further away from the relegation zone at second-bottom Thorncliffe & Wentworth, with Worsbrough Bridge hoping for the same as they host Kexborough. 

 

 

Stocksbridge replaced Millhouses at the top of Division 4 last weekend and all of the top three remain in the race for the title. This time around, the new league leaders will host relegation-threatened Whiston Forge, with Millhouses Works away to Silkstone United. Third-placed Higham are just ten points behind the top two but face a tough game away at fifth-placed Handsworth Junior SC. Meanwhile, Shiregreen 2nds could climb out of the relegation places when they travel to Cawthorne 2nds if Barnsley Woolley Miners 3rds fail to beat Sheffield Collegiate 4ths at Woolley. Bottom side Maltby Miners Welfare’s survival chances are fading, and they play away to mid-table Rockingham Colliery 2nds. 

 

 

Perhaps one of the most interesting battles for promotion comes in Division 5, where the top three fight it out for two places. Wombwell Main currently top the table by just four points, with their latest fixture coming at home to relegated Mexborough Athletic. Below them, Upper Haugh 2nds and Doncaster Town 3rds are level on 176 points and tomorrow are at home to mid-table Coal Aston 2nds and away to relegated Norton Oakes 2nds respectively. Things are a little more straightforward in the relegation zone, with the third place seemingly between tenth-placed Sheffield University Staff and Hallam 3rds, who are 18 points above them; the two play each other at Sandygate tomorrow. The two other games to take place feature teams comfortably in mid-table; Rotherham 2nds host Darfield 2nds, and Fishlake go to Conisbrough 2nds. 

 

 

The latest round of fixtures Division 6 sees double-headers for two teams. Caribbean Sports 2nds could boost their survival hopes with games away at Bradfield Village Fellowship 2nds and at home to Green Moor 2nds. Meanwhile, Thorpe Hesley & High Green 2nds can lift themselves into a position of safety with consecutive away games against Whitley Hall 3rds and Wickersley Old Village 3rds. League leaders Sheffield United 2nds will cement their promotion if they win away to Sprotbrough 3rds; whilst second-placed Penistone 2nds will do their chances no harm if they beat relegated Barnsley Woolley Miners 4ths at home. 

 

 

Promoted Division 7 leaders Brookhouse face a stern challenge to their 100% record this weekend when they travel to second-placed Higham 2nds. In a settled top three, Ackworth 2nds sit comfortably in third with a game at home to relegation-threatened Eden Grove Parklands. Towards the bottom, Mexborough Athletic 2nds will hope they can climb out of the bottom three with a home win over Frecheville Community 2nds. In contrast, Monk Bretton 2nds and Thorncliffe & Wentworth 2nds require miracles to drag themselves away from danger and they play Warmsworth 2nds and Harley respectively. 

 

 

Hatfield Town 2nds are running away with the Division Eight title as we head into the final weeks of the season and their promotion will be confirmed if they beat Dearne tomorrow. Second-placed Houghton Main 2nds do not play this weekend, but third place is currently occupied by Stocksbridge 2nds, who play away to fifth-placed Rockingham Colliery 3rds; whilst their closest challengers, Doncaster Town 4ths, entertain mid-table Worsbrough Bridge 2nds. In the bottom three, Scholes are currently 12 points from safety, with their next game coming at home to Wath 3rds, who occupy that final place above the relegation zone. Silkstone United 2nds can consolidate their place of safety with a win at relegated Fishlake 2nds. 

 

 

Adwick-le-Street’s defeat last weekend opened up the Division 9 title race and the top three continue battle it out with just four points separating them. Next up for Adwick are mid-table Brookhouse 2nds as they look to keep hold of top spot; whilst second-placed Wombwell Main 2nds go to second-bottom Eden Grove Parklands 2nds, and third-placed Upper Haugh 3rds play Whiston Forge 2nds – one place and 18 points below them. Elsewhere, Hampole & Skelbrooke play host bottom side Sheffield United 3rds and Rockingham Colliery 4ths play away to Kexborough 2nds. 

 

League tables 

 

Full fixtures