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Socrates Ladies FC, Sheffield (2026)

28/04/2026

📰 MATCH REPORT BY IJ

SHWGL
Open Age 2
Sunday 26/4/26

MISSED CHANCES ‘MAIN’ REASON FOR DEFEAT

SOCRATES 1 ROSSINGTON MAIN 3
Kirwin pen 83. Restill 33,70 Vickers 80

The result of this match on a rock-hard Thurcroft pitch was decided in a 10-minute spell early in the second half in which three golden opportunities for Socrates were squandered.

In fact, the nearest Socrates came to scoring was in the 18th minute when the always impressive Zoe Barnes put Carly Armsby through. Her shot hit a post when the home side were on top.

But it was the visitors who took the lead after 37 minutes through Kym Restill from what was a ‘nothing’ ball which no one in Socrates’ defence challenged. They just stood and watched as the goal was scored.

Changing ends 1-0 down but with still everything to play for, the trio of chances came in an eight minute period. They were all one-on-ones with goalkeeper Megan Clement.

Unfortunately for us, Megan made a good save to stop one and the other two were off target.

Kim Restill made Socrates pay in the 70th minute by scoring her second with a well-placed shot from 25 yards well out of Ella Williams’ reach.

Shortly afterwards, Zoe, Carly and Becky Hargreaves combined in a rare passing move and had an appeal for a handball in the penalty area turned down.

Carly was just wide with another effort provided by Zoe’s assist again. But Sophie Vickers put the result seemingly beyond doubt with a third for Rossington and her eighth of the season in the 80th minute.

Socrates weren’t quite finished though and when a second appeal for a penalty in the 83rd minute was successful Abbey Kirwin, who had had a good game, calmly converted.

This was their final match of the season and their fifth defeat in the last six games. They had started the afternoon in 7th position with Rossington in 9th but by the end they’d swapped places, though both were safe from relegation.

The result was particularly disappointing for coach Giuseppe (Pepe) La Rezza who is leaving after three years in charge.

He’s been a popular appointment and the club thanks him for all his hard work and wishes him well for the future wherever that might lead.

His cheerful personality will be greatly missed.

SOCRATES’ PLAYER OF THE MATCH: ABBEY KIRWIN (special mention: Zoe Barnes, Becky Hargreaves)

FOOTNOTE: Just to put the record straight, the Thurcroft Hub is home to 17 men’s, boys and women’s teams. There are five grass pitches of varying size. It was famously described by someone from Rossington as ‘just a field with cow pats’.

We can confirm that this has never been home to animals of the bovine variety and only the occasional dog on a lead has been spotted.

At £80 per match, including changing rooms, it’s the best value for any hub in the region.

We hope you enjoyed your visit and have a good summer. Thank you for your support.

27/04/2026

Yesterday's results obviously didn't go the way we hoped and therefore we ended the season with a loss. Rossington on the other hand were able to celebrate like they'd won the league after the 3 points secured safety from relegation - fair play to them.
It was a glorious day but a bouncy, bobbly, rock hard pitch didn't play into our strengths and we weren't able to capitalise on the few chances we had. It was also Coach Pepe's last match on the managerial team for Socrates so maybe the players could see properly through their tear filled eyes. We wish him all the best for his future 💜
All details, as per, in IJs match report on our page in the morning.
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⚽ Abbey Kirwin
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Player of the match: Abbey Kirwin

26/04/2026

A gorgeous day for our last game of the season 😎
Should be a good one too against Rossington Main who will be keen to take all 3 points but we'll be trying our best to spoil that.
If you can, we would love a great turn out of supporters. And really, is there a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon? I didn't think so. See you there, 2pm!

21/04/2026

📰 MATCH REPORT BY IJ

SHWGL
Open Age 2
Sunday 19/4/26

OWN GOAL SEPARATES SOCRATES FROM CHAMPS

SOCRATES 0 BARNSLEY FC 1
Gerrietty og 51

It was the third time in the last five games that Socrates had conceded an own goal but on this occasion it cost them the match which was particularly unjust.

Barnsley had already clinched promotion and become champions by winning 18 of their 20 games and collecting 52 points. They had scored 89 goals in the process so it was some achievement to prevent them putting the ball in the net themselves.

Top scorer Charli Hayward with an incredible 34 goals was anonymous as a second half substitute.

Some might say that they lacked intensity in their play having already achieved their objective of going up but that wasn’t apparent from the constant goading of their motormouth coach Kev Moreton on the touchline.

Last time they met in February, Barnsley won 5-1 with two penalties but two months later they played well enough to take a point and had chances to seal an unexpected victory.

The Reds, playing in white (a pale imitation ?) could have gone ahead in the 16th minute when ‘keeper Ella Williams did well to watch a shot from Hannah Ross through a crowd of players.

But Amber Wilson nearly scored for Socrates from range after 33 minutes, Holly Dunsford fi***ng the ball over the bar. Shortly afterwards Laurel Seed almost netted in a goalmouth scramble.

The sides changed ends goalless but with the home side having the edge.

Socrates had seven players missing but their defence, with Nicole Bramley, Paula Higgins and Kayleigh Gerrietty recalled, were making up for the absentees. Such a pity then that Kayleigh turned the ball past Ella in the 51st minute.

Beth Sykes and Jordanne Sykes were also rising to the occasion, joining Zoe Barnes to bolster midfield.

If only the referee had given a penalty when Lauren was elbowed in the face, justice might have been.

Ella denied Krizia Firth with a good save before Amber had another chance. With time running out for Socrates to equalise, the goalie went up into the attack at a corner in the final minute, as they do.

It came to nothing, leaving Ella to spring back to an unguarded goal with Molly Waite in hot pursuit. A full length dive by Socrates’ captain turned Molly’s shot round the post in a dramatic finale, applauded by players and supporters from both sides.

⚽️ SOCRATES’ PLAYER OF THE MATCH: BETH SYKES (special mention: Ella Williams, Jordanne Taaffe)

FINAL MATCH: Next Sunday v Rossington Main(h) ko 2pm

FOOTNOTE: Barnsley’s success is remarkable as it’s a new team, following the former development squad disbanding at the end of last season for financial reasons.

As coach Kev Moreton, charming away from the field of play, explained, "We had to start again. Eight of today’s squad are teenagers. They’ve certainly overachieved".

So much so that they even tried to bypass promotion to Division One and go straight into the regional league, an application which has been rejected, rightly.

“We think we could have competed at that level but we are on our own with no external financial help”.

Welcome to our world, Kev!

19/04/2026

An absolute battle of a game today. Losing all 3 points to a bobbly scrap in the 6 yard box feels absolutely gutting. 0-0 would've been a fair result but we even had chances to take the lead!
On paper, Barnsley should've wiped the floor with us after winning the league, but every single player in purple gave 100%, making their passing game difficult and snuffing out all their chances.
Honestly, huge credit to absolutely every one of them 👏
You can read all about it on Facebook on Tuesday morning.
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Player of the match: Beth Sykes

19/04/2026

BIG GAME TODAY 🙌

We face Barnsley Women who are top of the league have already been crowned champions. We're hoping to spoil the party a little and give them a really good show today though.
Park the bus? 🚌
All our attack? 💪
Sunbathe? 😎

Come and see for yourselves!

19/04/2026

A few night games have happened since our last post (sorry - too busy personal life 😂)

You can read all about them over on the page because IJ is more organised than me!

Back on it today though. Details up next!

18/04/2026

📰 MATCH REPORT BY IJ

SHWGL
Open Age 2
Thursday 16/4/26

GOAL DROUGHT ENDS WITH EDENTHORPE DOUBLE

EDENTHORPE 0 SOCRATES 2
Leach og 12 Armsby 13

Socrates’ first goal for 293 minutes or four matches was scored by the opposition!

It came from a perfectly executed corner by Sophie Shemeld, without a goal since returning from an acl injury, but turned in by a defender after goalie Sarah Leach failed to gather.

That was in the 12th minute and when top scorer Carly Armsby, hot favourite for the Golden Boot in her debut season, made it 2-0 60 seconds later from a breakaway and emphatic finish for her eighth goal, hopes were raised for a landslide.

But that was the end of the fun almost before it had begun but no matter. The precious sixth win enabled Socrates to leapfrog last week’s victors Rossington Main back into seventh place and the safety of 23 points.

It was their second successive 60-mile round trip in just over a week to Deepest Darkest Doncaster, another Long Day’s Journey Into Night (see Footnote) but this time without the benefit of floodlights.

Edenthorpe, bottom of the table with only one win and destined to return to Open Age 3 from whence they came last season, almost pulled a goal back in the 29th minute when Katie Paton hit a post but that was their only shot of note.

Ella Williams in Socrates’ net was able to preserve her third clean sheet of the season.

Socrates started with the first eleven players to arrive as any later than 6:30 would have resulted in limited playing time, dictated by fading light. But they were to prove the most effective.

The remaining five squad members’ arrival
was delayed by traffic jams en route.

Having changed ends 2-0 up, there were now hopes that the floodgates would open after the interval. But the combination of better defending and some ragged Socrates’ shooting quickly scuppered that expectation.

This didn’t detract from some hardworking displays by the usual suspects (Zoe Barnes in midfield and defenders Gee Goldsmith, Joely Sykes and Laurie Millington). Add to that the dynamic Charlotte Watson who was a physical presence throughout.

Everyone deserved credit for re-arranging their busy work schedules to attend at such an early hour but especially Sophie and Laurie who didn’t think they’d make it originally. And Laurel Seed who missed basketball practice.

They were all rewarded with their first and only double of the season, following November’s 2-1 home win over Edenthorpe.

SOCRATES’ PLAYER OF THE MATCH: CHARLOTTE WATSON (special mention: Sophie Shemeld, Laurie Millington.

⚽️NEXT MATCH: Sunday Apr 19 v Barnsley ko 2pm.

FOOTNOTE: Luvvies’ corner ….Long Day’s Journey Into Night was a play written by American author Eugene O’Neill for which he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama posthumously in 1957.

It was revived in the West End in 2024 starring Brian Cox.

10/04/2026

📰 MATCH REPORT BY IJ

SHWGL
Open Age 2
Wednesday 8/4/26

SOCRATES’ SLUMP CONTINUES

ROSSINGTON MAIN RES 2 SOCRATES 0
Nelthorpe 40 Jack 90+2

I’ve always tried to look on the bright side of life but if Morecambe and Wise had been Socrates’ supporters they would have been thinking of rewriting their signature song at the moment.

It doesn’t help being a Blackpool fan either!

Also being challenged by a series of major road closures and diversions on the way there and back and getting home at 11pm didn’t lift the mood. And I wasn’t driving! (Thank you Becky Hargreaves)

Then I watched the marvellous World Cup comedy 2026 and suddenly everything was alright again.

What was so frustrating was that Socrates should have taken something from the game against modest opposition, boosted by two first teamers, who usually play in a regional lead.

Ultimately, that’s what’s accounted for their recent improvement of four consecutive wins. Socrates on the other hand have lost their last three and scored only one goal in six games.

And that has been their undoing. Good chances came and went with all the forwards being culpable at the same time.

The defence performed well though with Joely Sykes, Gee Goldsmith, Nicole Bramley and Kayleigh Gerrietty keeping Rossington’s more dangerous attack at bay.

Zoe Barnes was playing her part in midfield as always.

Ella Williams managed to scoop the ball away when Millie Guest threatened in the 26th minute but the deadlock was broken five minutes before the interval when Kirsty Nelthorpe gave the home side the lead.

Brooke Johnson-Rolfe almost made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute), her shot just clearing the bar, following a good passing move. But Socrates were coming more into the game and forced a series of corners, none of which produced a shot never mind a goal.

Their best chance of an equaliser fell to Amber Wilson in the 80th minute but she couldn’t provide the finish inside the box with only ‘keeper Megan Clement to beat.

Rossington’s fastest person on the pitch was their first-aider who made frequent appearances to tend injuries of varying severity.

These stoppages accounted for nearly 10 minutes added time in which Katie Jack clinched victory. The way their coaches celebrated the three points reflected their relief. They also felt they’d staved off the threat of relegation.

They moved up to seventh swapping places with their opponents, who should also be safe, barring disasters in their final three games. The return fixture at home to Rossington will be the last of these.

SOCRATES’ PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JOELY SYKES (special mention: Gee Goldsmith, Nicole Bramley)

FOOTNOTE: Rossington came out of their changing room onto the field , accompanied by mascots.

Both teams lined up and went down the line, shaking hands as if it was a Champions’ League match, not SHWGL Open Age 2 game.

There was no national anthem, though.

⚽️ Next fixture: Thursday Apr 16 ( v Edenthorpe away) ko tba

31/03/2026

📰 MATCH REPORT BY IJ

SHWGL
Open Age 2
Sunday March 29

BRODSWORTH DOUBLE BUT NOT AS EASY THIS TIME

SOCRATES 0 BRODSWORTH WELFARE 5
Edmonds pen 33, Bramley og 39, Bytheway 60, Findlay 70, Tugby-Andrew 79

Summertime and the livin’ is easy - unless you’re playing Brodsworth. They’re enjoying an upturn in fortune since acquiring some former Doncaster Belles players.

They haven’t conceded a goal in their last seven matches whereas Socrates haven’t scored in their last three which probably tells you all you need to know.

There were fears that this would be a sequel to the previous 9-0 Nightmare on Welfare Road but although it was another heavy defeat, Socrates were unlucky not to get to halftime without conceding a goal.

It was an excellent defensive display with Nicole Bramley and Joely Sykes outstanding. Beth Sykes and Paula Higgins also played a significant part too.

But the referee awarding a highly questionable penalty to Brodsworth in the 33rd minute which ‘keeper Ella Williams got a hand to but couldn't keep out. Six minutes later Nicole scored an own goal.

For once, the best of Socrates was seen in the first half. The clocks had gone forward an hour but after the interval, their game went backwards.

It might have been so different if Amber Wilson had managed to convert a chance in the 46th minute when Laurie Millington put her through. But ‘keeper Keira Woodward just beat her to the ball.

As it was, Brodsworth scored next through Holly Bytheway (by the way) on the hour to be followed by a fine fourth goal by former Belle Holly Findlay, her eighth of the season and a fifth from the other Belle Lindsey Tugby-Andrew.

It wasn’t just in front of goal that they made a difference but they were influential in other areas of the pitch as well.

Suddenly, they were 5-0 up and there was no way back for Socrates, for all the willing running of Carly Armsby who never got a clear sight of goal.

The nearest they came was a shot by Sally Lowe, sent away by the industrious but we’ll-marked Zoe Barnes, which went narrowly wide. They could have done with one of Demi Cassinelli’s long-range specials but she wasn’t connecting cleanly on this windswept afternoon.

A word about midfielder Laurie who kept going till the end despite having come off a night shift and losing an hour’s sleep before playing.
(SORE) FOOTNOTE :
Getting to Thurcroft for a 2.15pm ko was a story in itself. As Ecclesall Road and all surrounding outlets were closed for the Sheffield Half Marathon until 1.30 , Becky Hargreaves, with whom I was getting a lift, had to abandon her car on the far side of the road.
The trouble was I had all the equipment , including balls, cones and kit . She suggested walking up a hill to my flat on the other side of Ecclesall Road.
We carried everything in the rain some quarter of a mile (not a half marathon) back to the car. Becky volunteered to take the bulk of the load including eight balls and the kit.
I was recovering from a stress fracture of the right foot and she, not surprisingly, complained of a sore shoulder !
That was just the beginning. What followed was a not-so- magical mystery tour around the houses and roads through parts of Sheffield we’d never before visited in all our years living in the city.
Amazingly and thanks to Satnav , we ended up on the Parkway and made it to the ground in Rotherham with time to spare (just) .
Becky’s reward ? A place on the ‘bench’ as a substitute!

SOCRATES’ PLAYER OF THE MATCH: JOELY SYKES (special mention: Nicole Bramley, Carly Armsby)

⚽️ NEXT MATCH: Apr 8 v Rossington Main Res (a) ko 7.45pm.

(SORE) FOOTNOTE: Getting to Thurcroft for a 2.15pm ko was a story in itself. As Ecclesall Road and all surrounding outlets were closed for the Sheffield Half Marathon until 1.30, Becky Hargreaves, with whom I was getting a lift, had to abandon her car on the far side of the road.

The trouble was I had all the equipment, including balls, cones and kit. She suggested walking up a hill to my flat on the other side of Ecclesall Road.

We carried everything in the rain some quarter of a mile (not a half marathon) back to the car. Becky volunteered to take the bulk of the load including eight balls and the kit.

I was recovering from a stress fracture of the right foot and she, not surprisingly, complained of a sore shoulder!

That was just the beginning. What followed was a not-so- magical mystery tour around the houses and roads through parts of Sheffield we’d never before visited in all our years living in the city.

Amazingly and thanks to sat nav, we ended up on the Parkway and made it to the ground in Rotherham with time to spare (just).

Becky’s reward? A place on the ‘bench’ as a substitute!

30/03/2026

Another scoreline that doesn't do us justice. It was a great effort from everyone who dug deep 'til the final whistle but just couldn't create the chances we needed. IJs match report will be up tomorrow so you can read all about it.
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Player of the match Joely Sykes

Socrates Ladies FC

28/04/2026

27/04/2026

26/04/2026

21/04/2026

19/04/2026

19/04/2026

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