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1 ac)
Staffs man employed in counting sheep, originally (6)
I have Crooks but cannot see why. I see the staffs, and the sheep originally (s) but...?
28ac)
Fought with unruly youth about Soviets finally changing sides (7)
It looks to be Tussled. Is the Soviets changing sides Red to Led? Where's the youth?
16d)
Knocked up some satire, verbal lampooning in double quick time (4,5)
I seem to have Alla Breve, which does have 'verbal' 'up' in it but...?
and 18d)
Beaten in game, not having doubled spades in time (7)
I seem to have Birched but cannot understand why it should be so.

1 ac)
Staffs man employed in counting sheep, originally (6)
I have Crooks but cannot see why. I see the staffs, and the sheep originally (s) but...?

Yes - Staffs = crooks

Man [chess] ROOK

[in] CS - first of counting sheep

16

satire, verbal lampooning, contains

ALLA BREVE [knocked up]

16d ....satirEVERBALLAmpooning (hidden backwads in clue) = alla breve

16d ....satirEVERBALLAmpooning (hidden backwads in clue) = alla breve

18d)
Beaten in game, not having doubled spades in time (7)
I seem to have Birched but cannot understand why it should be so.

BIRD [time as in a prison sentence]
CHE [ss] is the game , minus double spades [S]

Aha!
Thank you both, Jazzgirl and Mamya.

Can anyone helps with the 28 ac. explanation?

28 Unruly youth is Ted (short for teddy boy)
around USS(r) with (l)eft instead of (r)ight

28ac)
Fought with unruly youth about Soviets finally changing sides (7)
It looks to be Tussled. Is the Soviets changing sides Red to Led? Where's the youth?

USSR (change R to L - USSL
[about] unruly youth TED[dy boy]

Birched...beaten with birch twigs