Penistone Church are hoping to keep English football's highest goal-scorer quiet and earn a ninth straight home league win in their Boxing Day derby with promotion rivals AFC Emley in the Northern Counties East League Division One.
Church beat Knaresborough on Saturday to stay in sixth, the final Division One play-off place, and are now due to host fifth-placed Emley and their ex-Shaw Lane Aquaforce striker Ashley Flynn who has 50 goals this season. Church have lost just one of their last 18 league games while they have not been beaten at home in the NCEL since August.
Athersley Rec’s Joe Thornton had a goal ruled out while they hit the bar twice and forced several good saves in a 0-0 Premier Division home draw with Armthorpe Welfare on Saturday.
Silkstone United made it five wins out of five games at home in County Senior Division One this season as they beat visitors High Green Villa 4-1. Jamie Dixon was the hat-trick hero and the other scorer was Wayne Hughes in United’s first league game since October. North Gawber got their first Premier Division win since October as they gained a 3-1 victory over Jubilee Sports.
Grimethorpe Sports blasted their way into the last eight of the Sheffield Association Cup with a 5-2 win over Stocksbridge Park Steels reserves.
Several Saturday games were called off, including Shaw Lane Aquaforce's home fixture, while the almost all of the Sunday League matches were postponed after the council closed their pitches due to the weather.
