Hallam (10-12-2016)

Hallam 4 - 2 Teversal (NCEL Division 1), Saturday 10 December 2016

Bus Sheffield £3-90
Tea x2 £1-40
Entry £5
Total £10-30

I feel like I have let Hallam FC down over the years! Despite being in Sheffield since 2008, I'd only actually been to Sandygate once before today. It has slipped down my list when I have been gallivanting around the North West and other places. So this, combined with a relatively easy cross-city bus ride, made this a perfect one today.

(Obviously) Sandygate is the oldest football ground in the world, so is something of a 'Mecca' for the non-league community. It sits high up in the Sheffield suburb of Crosspool, and is bounded by rather magnificient grey stone walls, making the entrance not dissimilar to Stocksbridge's Bracken Moor. The club share the ground with a cricket club, meaning that only 3 sides were accessible to spectators today. Apparently there was a Father Christmas here today, as well as free mince pies! I made the most of the latter when I had a cup of tea before kick-off. My diet will have to wait!

The first half was relatively short on chances but high on interest. Teversal, sitting near the bottom of the table, came out with a Leicester-city style plan, launching the ball forward and making the most of opportunities to counter-attack. After an early warning drive from Hallam's right-back was saved, Teversal took a lead when Jason Dawson headed superbly in. Unbelievably they then doubled their lead when David Cockerill - a larger man who nonetheless had a clever sleight of touch - took down a high ball, and planted it brilliantly into the top corner.

The second half brought a passionate response from Hallam. James Reed halved the deficit with a rifled effort, and you felt that Teversal were now vulnerable. Teversal nonetheless continued with their game plan, and their number 11 did resemble one Jamie Vardy in his gait and playing style - running onto loose balls with a fierce tenacity. 

The crucial phase of the match was when Teversal's 7 slipped clean through but could only skew his shot wide. That would have made it 3-1. At the other end, Hallam were awarded a penalty, and while they couldn't convert at the first time of asking, Jake Currie made it 2-2 with the rebound. There was now only one winner. Teversal looked exhausted. Tom Roebuck made it 3-2 to the home side with a header, before slotting in from a late counter-attack to add a gloss to the scoreline. Hallam had most certainly deserved the win, but I felt a bit sorry for the Mansfield team, who could have pulled off a shock had they been able to maintain their momentum for the second period. I hope that I'll be back at Hallam sometime soon, and that I don't leave it another 8 years before visiting again!

Stocksbridge (03-12-2016)

Stocksbridge 1 - 2 Basford United (Evostik Division 1 South), Saturday 3 December 2016

Entry £7
Petrol £5 approx
Tea x2 £2
Programme £1-50
Total £15-50

After a Saturday morning at work, and last week's long trip to Hereford, I decided to head to Bracken Moor for my first December game. Up until February this year it had been almost 8 years since I'd visited, so I felt it was high time for my 3rd trip to Stocksbridge. The ground is beautiful, despite it's three sides, and I had a camera handy for the impressive views across the nearby valley. From our house it was only about a 40-minute drive up the M1 and the Woodhead Pass, so it was an ideal one today.

I was also attracted by the potential of seeing a 'Roy of the Rovers' type player. In my first visit back in 2008, I had unwittingly seen Jamie Vardy in action up here, so anything was possible. As the teams warmed up I had visions of an epic non-league encounter, and flowing, box-to-box football. 

To be frank the game was awful! The game was sadly defined by a bizarre refereeing decision in the 6th minute. Basford took a corner, the whistle went, and a Steels player caught the ball in his box. To the bemusement of all players (on both teams), the referee awarded a penalty to Basford! Despite the rather embarrassing circumstances, Basford's Ben Hutchinson kept his head and made it 1-0, with vocal protests still continuing from the home side. Courey Grantham then doubled the lead with a superb run and shot. Stocksbridge's effort in midfield finally paid off though, as Nathaniel Crofts cut the deficit when he cut in from the wing and had a go.

Chances were very limited in the second period. Basford forced a couple of decent saves from the home keeper, whilst Stocksbridge's striker saw a flicked header drift frustratingly wide. The Nottingham side seemed determined to sit on the lead for a somewhat fortuitous win. The main on-pitch event of the second half was when there was a clash at the far end of the pitch, resulting in a couple of yellow cards. As darkness fell, the main entertainment off the pitch was a loud group of Essex ground-hoppers, who were making bizarre noises and comments as the away keeper took goal kicks. I have enjoyed my visits to Stocksbridge, but unfortunately today had just been one of those days when the football is absolutely devoid of any entertainment! I was relieved to get into the car, warm up and head back down the motorway in time for tea.