Champions Village kick off with victory in Blades Super Draw Football League

The great kick off and the start of a new season. New faces in each of the three divisions but who would come out on top?
Woodseats Club v Norton  Sportsman - James Archer hits the winnerWoodseats Club v Norton  Sportsman - James Archer hits the winner
Woodseats Club v Norton Sportsman - James Archer hits the winner

Champions of the CBC Premier for five of the last six seasons, Stannington Village started their new season in familiar style: that with a victory.

They defeated CBC newcomers Chapeltown RBL 3-0 at Malin Bridge Gas Club but had to work hard for their victory.

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After Chapeltown had made a bright start, Stannington took the lead in the twentieth minute when the prolific Alex Torr was brought down in the area and the striker made no mistake from the spot.

They doubled their lead just before the break when Danny Abdulla and Lewis Dickinson combined to give Arnie Grayson a near post finish.

The visitors battled away and had a good penalty shout turned down when Ash Burbeary was sent tumbling into the area in the second half but nothing was given. The points were secured in the final minute when Torr found Dean Jepson who headed in the third at the far post.

Last season’s runners up Wadsley Bridge Pheasant also a winning start, as they saw off perennial challengers Redmires 2-1.

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Danny Reet gave Redmires the lead on his debut but the teams went into the interval level when Andy Dawson’s corner was headed home by Carl Andrews.

The home side dominated the second half and got their just rewards with a winner when Adam Askwith’s cross was dropped by the Redmires custodian and Lewis Fothergill had the simplest task to net.

Norton Sportsman also accrued a maximum haul in their first ever CBC Premier game; with a 1-0 away win at Woodseats Club.

It was a tight game and it needed a special goal to decide it and sure enough we go one when with twenty minutes left when James Archer rocketed a long range free-kick into the top corner although Sportsman were thankful to goalkeeper Conor Merone who tipped a late effort from Club over the bar.

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Not so lucky were Oughtibridge WM on their return to the top table as their understrength side slipped to a 3-0 loss at Renishaw Rangers.

Renishaw, who were previously known as Killamarsh Juniors, took the lead when Robin Holmes fired into the bottom corner and he doubled his tally and the lead for the home team when he cracked an effort into the top corner from a superb Montelle Kamara cross-field pass.

The third came in when Levi Richmond put a free-kick into the danger area and Karl Ainsworth headed home. Oughtibridge’s day was compounded late on when Ollie Black saw his penalty saved well by Renishaw stopper Simon Dye.

Two goals in the first half by Matt Ellis proved to be the difference as Handsworth Old Crown made a winning beginning with a 2-1 win over Intake Old Boys.

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Both goals were created by Kieran Gallagher as the home side took a three point start. Intake pulled a goal back through with Callum Paine on target but could not force a leveller and come away a point as they missed numerous chances as the game headed towards its conclusion.

Royal Earl are a lot of people’s favourites for the Division One title and they confounded some of those thoughts with an excellent 8-2 win at Norton Oaks A.

Steve Brammer led the way with a hat-trick for Earl who were four goals to the good without reply at half-time, Mike Towey and Tom Nolan both added braces whilst Charlie Myers completed a good morning’s work for the visitors.

A goal on his debut from Glossop and Nasa Meah were just consolation for Oaks whose manager Ashley Holland had to don the gloves after both his regular goalkeepers were unavailable to play.

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Recently relegated to the second tier Civil Sports A also had a win on opening day, a single goal late on separated them and visitors Ranch on a bobbly pitch at Green Lane.

Thomas Bamford with the winner from the penalty spot. Two goals from Michael Blythen and one from Kieran Patterson gave Cotts FC the perfect start as they overcame visitors Crookes FC 3-0 in their opening game and surprise last season Division Two champions who are also tipped to do well in the middle division.

Martin Lee gave Norton Oaks A the lead at another promoted side in the shape of Forum FCCO but the hosts took the points on offer though with Josh Gibson and player-manager Jamie Smith giving them a 2-1 win.

Both sides missed a penalty apiece in an entertaining game. A double from Carlton Carty proved decisive in the final Division One encounter as Southey Social withstood a comeback from Mosborough Reds to win 4-2.

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Carty struck either side of a Byron Mullen screamer and a John Mellor header to give Southey a four goal half time lead. Brad Hague pulled one back for Reds with twenty-three minutes left and Scott Williams’ added a second ten minutes later but the home side saw the game out.

There was only one game in Division Two with Colley defeating visitors Shakey 5-3. Danny Parker marked his Colley debut with a hat-trick whilst Ben Thorley and Ragen Dempsey also netted for the home side’s nap hand.

Shakey battled well and saw Andrew Redfern, with a penalty, James Marston and Jack Battle on target for them although Dempsey’s goal and Parker’s hat-trick strike gave the home side the win.

The games at Beighton Magpies (against Wadsley Horse and Jockey) and Mosborough Whites (against Sheffield Sixes) were postponed due to unplayable surfaces.

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The opening day was concluded with two games in the first round of this season’s Twentytwo Cup.

Josh Hawkes was the hat-trick hero for Brinsworth Phoenix as they made it through at the expense of a battling Cadbury whom they overcame 4-1. Jake Griffiths scored the other for Phoenix whilst McIntosh netted Cadbury’s sole response.

Also in the hat for round two are Boynton Sports as they came from a half time deficit to win 2-1 at Woodseats Chantrey. Brad Gray had given the home side the lead on the stroke of half time but Jake Ballinger and Curtis Priday gave Boynton that coveted place in the next stage.

FIXTURES IN BRIEF

CBC PREMIER Intake Old Boys v Chapeltown RBL; Norton Sportsman v Oughtibridge WM; Redmires v Woodseats Club; Wadsley Bridge Pheasant v Handsworth Old Crown; Wickersley Youth OV v Renishaw Rangers DIVISION 1 Cobden View v Southey Social; Crookes FC v Civil Sports A; Mosborough Reds v Ranch; Norton Oaks A v Cotts FC; Royal Earl v Forum DIVISION 2 Boynton Sports v Woodhouse JFC; Brinsworth Phoenix v Beighton Magpies; Civil Sports B v Woodseats Chantrey; Colley v Cadbury; Sheffield Sixes v