SJR Worksop continue to battle away with the best of them in their run at East Midlands Women’s Football League Premier Division football, and were only just narrowly beaten away to Rotherham at the weekend.

Having collected fifteen points already this season, they’d no doubt feel despondent to have not added another to that tally when at Roundwood, holding their own until deep into stoppage time.

Had they held on it would have been SJRs first draw of the season, instead it was a defeat which brought a crashing halt to their seven-match, unbeaten streak (in all competitions), a run which has seen them progress in the County Cup, the League Plate, and pick up a huge win on the road at Chesterfield.

Both ‘keepers took plaudits for the game, saves from both Ashleigh Ridsdel-Harrison (Rotherham) and Emily Hallam (SJR Worksop) keeping their respective goals intact, until the death.

The winner, it arrived in the 96th minute, the two sides locked in a goalless battle before a moment of magic, from the boot of Sidni Simmons, settled it; giving away a free-kick on the corner of the box proved disastrous for the visitors when Simmons aimed for goal, and smashed it over the out-stretched arms of the

SJR perhaps deserved more, and they now need to pick themselves up to go again this coming Sunday (9 March) when they welcome Nottingham Trent University to Rockware, in the EMWRFL League Plate semi-final.

SJR Worksop – Emily Hallam, Charlotte Finch, Rachael Bell, Lauren Brogan, Alice Hill, Amy O’Brien, Lauren Cundy, Rachael Kelly, Leah Harrison, Emily Myatt, Emily Murphy (subs – Luara Ferguson, Mia McDonald, Hollie Kershaw)

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, the Mansfield Town game away to Chesterfield was abandoned due to a serious injury to Stags striker, Olivia Wheatcroft (Get Well Soon Liv), whilst Basford United suffered a 5-0 loss at home to leaders Sheffield, who had five different scorers.

Division One Central saw West Bridgford Colts held to a 1-1 draw away to Long Eaton, and Arnold Eagles also drew 1-1 in the North, on the road at Buxton, whilst Sherwood suffered a 3-0 loss against visiting Gainsborough Trinity, all three goals coming in the opening twenty minutes.

In the Notts Girls & Ladies Lague, the League Cup final will be contested between Southwell City and University of Nottingham, both of whom won 4-1 at home in their respective semi-finals on Sunday, to Arnold Eagles Development, and Mansfield Town Development.

As for the Seniors One, it’s still tight with seven points splitting the top six sides of Radcliffe Olympic (29), Mansfield Devs (29), Newark Town (28), Calverton Miners Welfare (26), Uni of Nottm (25), and Lowdham Colts (22).

Calverton moved into fourth place with a 2-0 win away to Lowdham Colts, whilst a hat-trick from Connie Forman moved Newark to within a point of the joint-leaders as they won 4-0 at home to Hucknall Town, and the game between Basford U23s and NTU Pink finished twos-apiece.

A brace from Jenna Stocks sees Keyworth United lead Seniors Two by six points after they won 3-0 away to Shirebrook Rangers, Eastwood & Kimberley jumped into second place on goal-difference following their narrow, 2-1 win at Underwood Villa, and the battle of Sherwood went in favour of Sherwood Colliery, they moving fourth with a comfortable, 4-0 win, at home to bottom club Sherwood Development, goals via Ellie Horsman, Kate Pawlitta, Mia Shananhan, and Sophie Evans.

Arnold Town meanwhile are seven points clear of Gedling Southbank in Seniors Three after they routed visiting Pelican Colts 10-0; both Gedling, and third place East Leake, do have games in hand on the leaders.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @SJRWorksopFC Emily Hallam in goal for SJR Worksop v Rotherham.