Sheffield FC head the pack in Under 12’s at Goals Sheffield
Huge collection for Stocksbridge Food Bank Drive
After Match Day Three of the South Yorkshire Ability Counts League, we have a clear leader in the Under-16’s competition, as Club Doncaster Titans stretched their advantage at the top of the table to nine points with their two wins at Goals Sheffield on Sunday afternoon (6th December).
In the Under-12’s Division, however, it’s a little closer, with leaders Sheffield FC (Red), Bradford City (Blue) and Bradford City (Claret) all within four points of each other going into the Christmas break.
The matches were brilliantly supported, and there was a food and cash collection in support of the Food Bank drive supported by Stocksbridge Park Steels FC, Sheffield FC, Penistone Church FC, Liberty Steel Group and the South Yorkshire Ability Counts League. The collection raised a full box of food and several hundred pounds for this fantastic cause. The SYACL would like to thank everyone for their amazing contributions.
As always, our brilliant club reporters were all over the action, which is summarised, as usual, by our www.southyorkshireabilitycountsleague.com editor, Margaret Gregory.
It was cold, but dry at Goals Sheffield as Sheffield Blue got the Under-16’s Division afternoon off to a rousing start with a high scoring win over Bradford City Amber. Sheffield’s Pete Donohoe summed up the game. “Our game against Bradford was a real end-to-end goal feast. We went 3-0 up with goals from Kaiden, Lewis and Sophia before Bradford pulled one back. Lewis and Matt got the next 2 to make it 5-1 but Bradford kept going and pulled a goal back, before we ended our scoring with another goal from Matt to take it to 6-2. Bradford wasn’t finished and scored another goal before the whistle. A great game played with brilliant sportsmanship.”
Bradford’s Paul Jubb agreed that the result was the right one. “The Under 16’s played Sheffield FC in the first game,” Paul told us. “We went 3-0 down in the first-half, then goals from Shane 2 and Jonathan, pulled it back to 3-3, but Sheffield did well in the last 5 minutes, as we went down to 4 players, and scored 3 more to deservedly win 6-3.”
Next up saw another close win for Club Doncaster Titans against Hillsborough Hornets (Black). Here’s Titan’s coach John Hibbert, “we started slow, then we shook our heads and played our game, which included some lovely football. James scored assisted by Devon 1-0 then they scored 1-1; then Devon scored to make it 2-1; then James scored 3-1; they scored again 3-2 then Levi gets injured; Danny wasn’t on long before he scored assisted by James 4-2; then James crosses the ball across goal forcing them to make an own goal, so we won 5-2.”
Bradford City Amber then got back on the winning trail with a good win over Hornets Yellow. “Some great football was played by our Amber team passing and working together as a team and making more tackles than in the first game,” Bradford’s Paul Jubb explained. We were rewarded with a 6-2 win. Shane 4, Jonathan and then Eesa scored his first goal in the League.”
“Our star man on the day was Shane, who certainly had his scoring boots on!”
Sheffield Red were edged out in a close game with Hornets Black, but were in no way disgraced. “Our game against Hornets was an extremely fast and competitive game. We peppered their goal, but the Hornets stand-in keeper was incredible. We conceded 2 goals in the first-half but managed to pull 2 back with goals from Kaiden and Matt; and with only a minute to go the Hornets scored from a long-range effort. Our team made a huge improvement from previous fixtures, so this was definitely viewed as a victory.”
The final game of Matchday three saw leaders Club Doncaster Titans see off Hillsborough Hornets Yellow. John Hibbert summarised the game for www.syacl.com “The game started end-to-end, then James scored assisted by Danny 1-0. Hornets got the ball but missed a shot on goal and Owen passed to James who scored to make it 2-0. Then Hornets scored to make it 2-1; Danny won the ball from one of their players and scored to make it 3-1. Hornets scored again 3-2; unfortunately, Danny was injured and so had to go off; Devon replaced him; they scored again for 4-2. Levi scored making it 5-2 assisted by James then Levi scored again, and we won 6-4.”
So, after three Match days Titans have a perfect record and lead the way with 18 points. Hornets Black and Hornets Yellow have nine points each, with Bradford City Amber and Sheffield FC Blue both improving each week.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Club Doncaster Titans Ability Counts FC | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 18 |
| 2 | Hillsborough Hornets Disability FC U16 Y | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| 3 | Hillsborough Hornets Disability FC U16 b | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| 4 | Bradford City FITC Disability U16 Amber | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -2 | 6 |
| 5 | Sheffield FC Youth U16 SFCD Blue | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | -4 | 3 |
So, to the Under 12’s Division, with Bradford Blues first on against Bradford Wildcats. Here’s Bradford’s Paul Jubb, “the Blues won 4-3 against the Wildcats,“ Paul told us, “it was a close game, but the Blues just got the extra goal to ensure the win.“
Paul summed up the afternoon for the Blues. “The Blues were involved in another close game, this time losing 3-4 to top of the table Sheffield FC Reds; and then The Blues won 5-0 vs Hillsborough Hornets. Our star player on the day was Callum.”
Next up, and a tremendous game between Club Doncaster Titans and Sheffield FC Red. Titans Martin Taylor takes up the story, “it was an entertaining end-to-end game, brilliantly played by both teams. Jacob B got us in the lead early on then Sheffield went ahead with some quick-fire goals. We then pulled back level with two goals from Jacob R and a goal from Bella. In the last few minutes Sheffield scored two late goals to win the game.”
Sheffield’s Pete Donohoe summed up the win. “The first game of the day for Sheffield FC was against Doncaster Titans who took an early lead after pouncing on an error at the back. Fortunately, Brad brought his shooting boots and quickly redeemed himself with two fantastic strikes from long range to put Sheffield 2-1 up. Henry then scored his first of the day with a well-placed finish in a one-on-one. Kyle also got off the mark to make the score line 4-1 and looking comfortable.
Then three quick goals for Doncaster brought then right back in it and set up a thrilling last few minute. With the game looking like it could go either way and Doncaster carrying all the momentum, Noah broke through and scored on the counter attack before Kyle scored his second of the game to make the final score 6-4.”
Sheffield then faced a clash with title rivals Bradford City Blues. ”A top of the table clash with Bradford Blues,” Pete Donohoe told us, “and Kyle opened the scoring with a well-struck half-volley into the corner of the goal. A well worked free kick for Bradford got them back in the game to make it 1-1. Two goals were then disallowed for Sheffield FC after confusion with the players being allowed/not allowed in the box rules. Kyle scored again to put Sheffield ahead before Noah hit a long range shot to make the score 3-1. A valiant Bradford pulled two goals back to level things up at 3-3. With the game looking like a well-earned draw for both teams, Cam scored the winner with almost the last kick of the game.”
Meanwhile, Bradford’s Paul Jubb gave us his assessment of the Bradford Wildcat’s afternoon. “The Wildcats had a better day, they only lost 3-4 to Clarets; Massie scored 2 and Skye got the other in a close game.”
Unfortunately, they then lost 0-2 to Blues, but again were unlucky scoring an own goal.”
“In the last game the Wildcats lost to Doncaster Titans having to play with only 4 players due to an injury. Skye was star player on the day, but Lena was amazing in goal too! The girls can be proud of how they are coming along and it’s only a matter of time before they will get their first win.”
Paul Jubb summed up the afternoon for Bradford Clarets, who won their first game with Hillsborough Hornets. “Despite letting the other team play all their players, the Clarets still won easily on the day. Alfie with 3, Patrick with 3 and Isaac, all scored.”
“They then won 2-0 vs Wildcats. A lucky own goal and a rare goal from Alex sealed the win.”
“Clarets then won again vs Doncaster Titans, again letting the opposition bring extra players on. Patrick scored 3 and Alfie and Isaac scored goals.”
“Our star player on the day was Patrick. It was another great day at Sheffield Goals for Bradford City DFC.”
Sheffield’s Pete Donohoe gave www.southyorkshireabilitycountsleague.com his view on that Wildcats’ clash. Our final game of the day was against an injury hit Bradford Wildcats who started the game with 4 players (Sorry we didn’t realise until half-way through the game). Cam and Brad opened the scoring before Bradford hit back to halve the deficit and make it 2-1. Noah and Kyle both then scored to make the game 4-1. Unfortunately, with only seconds of the game remaining the Bradford goalkeeper was injured and the game was called short. We wish her well in her recovery.”
Titan’s Steph Hall reflected on their final two games. First, against Hillsborough Hornets, ”another brilliant game played by both teams. After a tight start to the game, we pulled ahead with a goal from Bella. It continued to be close and tense with many chances for both teams until Bella got her second goal of the game. In the end we held on and got another goal from a free-kick scored by Jacob B. There was a standout performance from the Hillsborough goalkeeper, who played really well and made some good saves which kept them in the game.“
Titans then went down to defeat against Bradford City Claret. “This was a good game played between the two teams,” Steph told us. “Our team played very well and battled hard against an exceptionally good Bradford Claret team. In the end the better team won.”
So, nine games in and it’s tight at the top, with Sheffield Red having a three point lead over Bradford Blue, with Bradford Claret a further point behind. Fourth-placed Titans have 15 points, with Bradford Wildcats and Hornets getting better every week.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| 1 | Sheffield FC Youth U13 SFCD U-13s Red | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 22 |
| 2 | Bradford City FITC Disability U12 Blues | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 19 |
| 3 | Bradford City FITC Disability U12 Claret | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 18 |
| 4 | Club Doncaster Titans Ability Counts FC | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 15 |
| 5 | Bradford City FITC Disability U12 Wildcats | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | -7 | 3 |
| 6 | Hillsborough Hornets Disability FC U12 O | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | -7 | 3 |
The action stays at Goals Sheffield next week, as the 5-a-side competition resumes. Remember, all the news and action can be found at www.southyorkshireabilitycountsleague.com and on our Twitter and Instagram sites.
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