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!
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