The last away game, and the penultimate game of the season, saw Sheffield romp to their biggest away win ever with a 13 - 0 annihilation of already relegated Collingham Tadcaster, writes Trevor Herrington.

The scoring started on 8 minutes with Lisa GIAMPALMA firing into the bottom corner. This was then followed by a brace from Lisa BAILEY  before Clare HOLMES then added two goals to the score. Five minutes before the break Lisa BAILEY was on hand again to get her hat-trick, which was followed three minutes later by Clare HOLMES, also completing her hat-trick. Just before the break it was the turn of Lynne GRAINGER to get on the scoresheet with a rare headed goal.

The second half provided no respite for the Collingham side, although the travelling fans had to wait until the hour mark for another goal, when skipper Nell TAYLOR was put through and coolly slotted the ball beyond the 'keeper. The woodwork was also playing a vital part to aid the hosts, with both Lisa Bailey and Lisa Giampalma hitting the bar in quick succession. Helen

Wakefield then went through on goal and also hit her shot against the bar. The visitors made it into double figures on 79 minutes when Rachel Charles squared the ball into the area for Clare HOLMES to tap into an empty net. The quickness of the visitors was proving the downfall of Collingham, who were trying to play the offside trap but, time and again, they were caughtflat-footed by the sheer pace of the Sheffield side. Clare HOLMES got her fifth of the afternoon with three minutes left to play, and two goals on the stroke of full time from Sarah WILSON and Helen WAKEFIELD brought the game to a close.

No surprise with the resul,t but it was good to see the side play

the match to the finish and boost their already considerable goal difference. With Howden Clough still having to complete their fixtures and Sheffield's last match being a month away, they remain top of the table with the job almost completed.

Sheffield put last Sunday’s defeat behind them with a comprehensive 5-0 win against Manvers at the Bright Finance Stadium, writes Trevor Herrington.

On a pleasant Thursday evening in front of a good size crowd, the hosts got off to a perfect start on the 10 minute mark when good team work released skipper Nell TAYLOR. whose shot beat the 'keeper. Clare Holmes then pulled a shot just wide, and Helen Wakefield then went close as the visitors found it difficult to contain the home side. An inswinging corner from Gemma Gale then caused panic in the Manvers defence as it hit the bar and went to safety. A sweeping move involving Natalie Crofts and Helen Wakefield saw Clare Holmes just miss the mark. Helen Wakefield then had a header well saved by the Manvers 'keeper. Just before the half hour mark the lead was doubled when, once again, good build up play released Jody CROFTS through on goal and she put the ball beyond the 'keeper’s outstretched hand. Five minutes later and Sheffield scored again. This time it was a good one-two between Clare Holmes and Lisa GIAMPALMA that enabled the diminutive powerhouse to slot the ball home. Christina Wright then had a great chance to get on the scoresheet with a header, but missed the target. The last action of a one-sided half saw Lynne Grainger fire just over the bar.

The second half saw Manvers make a rare sortie into the Sheffield half, gaining a corner kick, but this was soon cleared. On 50 minutes there was yet another goal for the hosts as a long ball forward from Christina Wright found quick thinking Jody CROFTS, who pounced on the indecisiveness of a Manvers defender and the 'keeper to nip between them and despatch the ball into an empty net. Still the chances came, with Helen Wakefield once again making the 'keeper produce a good save. The scoring was wrapped up on 77 minutes with the goal of the game. A great cross from Rachel Charles into the area found Lisa BAILEY waiting to volley it into the top corner of the net. Charles then had a chance herself, heading over from a Gemma Gale corner.

Overall, a convincing display with good passing and movement from a team that was solid throughout, with Caz Whiteman not having a single shot to save. Next up is the last away game of the season, at Collingham Tadcaster

Sheffield's league title hopes took a serious dent this afternoon as they went head to head against main rivals Howden Clough, writes Trevor Herrington. With the non-availability of the Bright Finance Stadium due to waterlogging, the game was switched to the Keepmoat Stadium second pitch - home of Doncaster Belles.

On a decent playing surface and in bright sunshine, the game got underway with Sheffield having the benefit of a breeze blowing in their favour. As both sides got to grips with one another it was Sheffield who were having more of the ball, but Howden were well marshalled at the back, giving the hosts little opportunity of a goalscoring chance. It was somewhat against the run of play when the visitors took the lead. A quick break upfield saw the ball spread to the right, and the cross into the middle found a Howden forward completely unmarked. She didn't waste the opportunity, heading home from from close range. A minute later and Howden were two goals to the good when the Sheffield back line was left flat-footed, allowing the visitors to beat the offside trap and lob the ball into the net over the advancing Caz Whiteman. Somewhat shell-shocked the hosts started to respond, with Lisa Giampalma's header being gathered by the 'keeper after a good cross by Gemma Gale but, on 21 minutes, Howden added a third goal with a shot from just inside the area. The visitors were buoyant at this stage, as well they should be considering that they had three attacks which all proved decisive, whilst at the other end Sheffield were struggling to pierce a solid defence. The hosts were unlucky when a Gemma Gale corner was headed over by Rachel Charles, but a few minutes later they were rewarded when a ball down the right channel was chased by Lisa Bailey, who then crossed into the area for Clare HOLMES to slot home. This joy lasted less than a minute though as, straight from the restart, some catastrophic defending let Howden score once again. The misery of the half was completed just before the whistle when Caz Whiteman failed to gather an easy ball, giving the visitors a simple chance to go into the break 5-1 ahead.

With the game virtually over as a contest, the hosts came out for the second half in a positive mood and had the visitors on the back foot, with Lisa Bailey firing just over the bar. Lisa Giampalma then just failed with an attempt from a great cross by Gemma Gale. Just after the hour mark Sheffield pulled a goal back when Nell Taylor's cross into the six yard area was poked home by Clare HOLMES. Howden then had a rare attack as they broke through the defensive line, but Lauren Davids was on hand with a great tackle to avert the danger. She was in the wars again a few minutes later, this time damaging her neck, which resulted in her having to be replaced by Natalie Crofts. With a slight reshuffle of the defence, the home side once again laid seige to the visitors’ goal, Lisa Bailey having the ball in the net only to be judged offside. With less than ten minutes to go Sheffield pulled another goalback when good work from Helen Wakefield, whose cross into the area came off the post with Lisa GIAMPALMA the first to react and stab the ball home. With less than five minutes to play it was panic stations in the visitors’ defence as they tried to clear their lines. They did mount another attack on the Sheffield goal but the shot was way over the bar. Despite the endless pressure Sheffield just couldn't get another goal as time ran out, much to the relief of the visitors.

A first half penalty from Caz Whiteman and goals in the second half from Rachel Charles and Helen Wakefield saw Sheffield take over top spot in the league this afternoon at Dimple Wells, writes Trevor Herrington.

On a pitch which still had plenty of grass, it was the visitors who made the first telling move of the afternoon when Lynne Grainger's cross was met by the head of Clare Holmes, who  couldn't direct it on target. There was plenty of encouragement from the stand for the home team today as current league leaders Howden Clough were here to watch the game and hope Ossett could dent Sheffield's promotion challenge. They almost had something to cheer on ten minutes when a well worked corner to the edge of the area gave the home side a shooting chance which Caz Whiteman saw late but was still able to make the save. Back at the other end and this time it was Clare Holmes who became provider, laying the ball off into the path of Rachel Charles, who fired over the bar. Rachel Charles then sent a ball into the danger area to Lisa Giampalma, whose pass to the far post just eluded Lynne Grainger, running in unmarked. The visitors were having a good spell of play at this stage, restricting Ossett to the odd long ball forward, which was easily dealt with by the Sheffield back four. Sheffield should have taken the lead  when good work on the left saw Nell Taylor square the ball into the area where Clare Holmes was waiting, but somehow the striker missed the target from six yards. The visitors did get the breakthrough they deserved on 25 minutes when Clare Holmes was brought down in the area and Caz WHITEMAN stepped up to send her opposing number the wrong way. Ossett came back straight away as one of their forwards was put through on goal, but Lauren Davids was on hand with a last ditch tackle to avert the danger. With Ossett pressing forward, play became scappy as the visitors couldn't get the ball out wide and kept on  being caught in possession too many times. Some semblance of order was restored once the midfield had reorganised following a break in play after Gemma Gale caught the full force of the ball in the face, resulting in a bloody nose. Sheffield ended the half the stronger.

Ossett were the first to mount an attack in the second half, but great tracking back by player of the match Kate Rowell snuffed out the danger. At the other end, a long ball forward saw a chase between Clare Holmes and the Ossett ‘keeper result in the latter just winning and flicking the ball away from the Sheffield striker. The next goal would be crucial and so it proved as, on 51 minutes, a well taken corner into the six yard box from Gemma Gale was met by the diminutive Rachel CHARLES, whose bullet header flew into the back of the net before the Ossett 'keeper could react. Clare Holmes then went through on goal, but a great tackle from her marker saved the home side on this occasion. It was all Sheffield at this stage; in fact they had controlled the whole half, with Caz Whiteman virtually a spectator in the visitors’ net. The game was sealed  on 73 minutes when the referee penalised the home side for a back pass to the 'keeper. Quick thinking by Clare Holmes saw her grab the ball and play a quick free kick to Lisa Giampalma, whose scuffed shot found its way to Helen WAKEFIELD arriving at the far post where she had no trouble in putting it into the net. Substitute Lisa Bailey then almost got on the scoresheet, picking the ball up in midfield and driving forward before playing a one-two with Lisa Giampalma on the edge of the area, but the 'keeper was there to make the save. Clare Holmes was unlucky when a goal looked on the cards until the 'keeper just managed to flick the ball away from her head, but Sheffield had done enough as the referee brought the game to an end.

After a somewhat scrappy first half, Sheffield took control and dominated the rest of the game. Assured performances from all concerned, with a particular mention to Kate Rowell who did a great man-to-man marking job on the Ossett forward. Another win at a place which has always proved difficult in the past, yet another clean sheet, and to take top spot off Howden Clough during their spying mission was the icing on the cake. There can be no complacency, though, as we get to the final run in. Next up is a home fixture against Keighley on Easter Sunday.