Steelers Face Relagation

SHEFFIELD Steelers are looking ever more likely to be relegated from the Men's North of England League Premier Division after yet another defeat saw them remain rooted to the foot of the table.

The South Yorkshire side have not won all season having lost eight of their nine league fixtures and, although they have some games in hand on teams above them, it looks as though the club will have to produce something special to get themselves out of trouble.

Steelers had the opportunity to claw back two points on fellow strugglers Mellor, who are second from bottom, but instead are now five points adrift after their opponents claimed what could prove to be a crucial 8-5 win at the weekend.

At the other end of the table runaway leaders Stockport extended their impressive unbeaten run to 11 matches with a 9-3 home win against Timperley. Stockport, last season's runners-up and Northern Senior Flags finalists, are five points ahead of Cheadle, the defending champions, with just seven matches remaining this season. The ever-reliable Paul Fullerton starred with a hat-trick and two assists as the Beech Road club won every quarter 2-0, 2-0, 2-1 and 3-2. Stockport keeper Ben McAllister kept Timperley at bay with 15 saves from 18 shots, while midfielders Chris Bland and Jim Morris both scored two goals and contributed two assists in yet another win for title favourites. Attacker Richard Wilson (1g+1a), midfielders Steve Howe (1g) and Simon McGuigan (1a) also contributed as Stockport remain on track for their first Premier Division title since 2007.

Timperley keeper Tim Blower made nine saves from 18 shots to keep the visitors in the hunt, but despite goals from Rob Macklin, Rory Sanborn and Greg Sandy, coupled with an assist each from midfielders Resh Panesar and Andy Brickell, it was Stockport who were deserved winners.

Cheadle stay second after they claimed their seventh win of the season, a hard-fought 13-8 triumph away to former league champions Wilmslow. Chris Mountney top-scored with three goals for Wilmslow, while James Perrin and Tom Brooks bagged doubles and Tommy Foster was also on the scoresheet for the home club. But Cheadle never lost a quarter as they led throughout 3-1, 4-2, 2-2, 4-2.

Heaton Mersey stay third, just a point behind Cheadle and with a game in hand on their rivals. Mersey registered a comfortable 12-5 win at home to Brooklands Hulmeians having won the opening quarter 4-1 and led 6-2 at half-time. Attacker Matt Beadle had a good game with four goals and two assists, while fellow frontman James Gallagher scored twice and chipped in with two assists. Mersey won the penultimate quarter 5-1, lost the last quarter 2-1, but by then the damage had been done to make sure of their seventh league win of the season. Midfielder Dave McCulloch impressed had a five point game with four goals and an assist for the hosts, with Dan Heighway (2g), Peter Hayes (1g), Andy Ellison (1g) and Chris Battersby (1a) all helping Mersey to win. Mersey face-off man Tom Gallon won 11 of the 17 faces he contested to give the home team a good share of possession, while keeper Anthony Hayes had a good game with 11 saves from 16 shots. In total Mersey outshot Hulmeians by nearly more than 50% with 49-27, with 30-16 of those efforts on target - and that was despite having given away 8.30 minutes of penalties compared to the visitors' 2.30 mins of penalites.

Rochdale, who impressed last Saturday with an 8-8 away draw with Cheadle, helped their relegation cause no end with a fine 13-8 home win against Manchester Waconians. Attacker Glen Humpheys was the stand-out-star with seven goals and two assists in an superb nine-point game. Only two other players have scored nine points this season, the highest tally for any player thus far in one single match in the 2009-2010 campaign.

Stockport's Fullerton scored six goals and had three assists in his side's 17-5 home win over Mellor on 12 December, while Wilmslow attacker Chris Mountney - another former England international - also weighed in with six goals and three assists on 31 Oct. Fellow team mate Mark Reynolds scored five and notched up four assists when Wilmslow beat Timperley 19-7 in the same match.

For Dale, apart from Humphreys heroics, attacker Joe Longley netted a hat-trick, with Nicky Watson (1g + 3a), Nick Nugent (1a), James Ayrton (1a), Aaron Duckworth (1g) and Matt Nugent (1g + 2a) all playing their part in a win which sees the Lancashire club third from bottom with six points, five ahead of basement side Steelers. Dale keeper Matt Croney saved 13 from 21 shots, while midfielder Ayrton won eight of the 12 face-offs he contested.

Wacs were their own worst enemy having given away a staggering 13.30 minutes of penalties compared to Dale's five minutes in the match. For Wacs keeper Will Stelfox saved 13 of 26 shots for a 50% average, with midfielder Reece Eagle having won 10 of 23 faces. Midfielder Casey Martin was Wacs' top-scorer with a hat-trick, with Tim Langan (1g + 1a), Case Watson (1a), Eddie Owen (1a), Steve Shanahan (1g + 3a) and Dominic Fitzgerald (2g) all contributing but to no avail.

Neil Goulding English Lacrosse Association