Hallam FC v Frickley Athletic (Sheffield Cup)

Recap

Hallam 4 Frickley 2

Goalkeeping woes and less than clinical finishing saw The Blues knocked out of the Sheffield Cup at the hands of Hallam of the NCEL last night. It was our earliest exit from the competition since losing at the same stage to the same opponents in 2009.

Devonte Morton and Tyler Williams came into the starting lineup with Burnsy and Joe Stacey moving to the bench and goalkeeping coach Gav Saxby had to play in place of the unavailable Jake Askew.

Hallam were ahead after just 66 seconds as a sweeping move down the right ended with the ball in the net.

Frickley fought back but the home side repeated the trick, but down the left this time, in the 13^th minute.

Three minutes later, The Blues halved the deficit when a piece of neat interplay ended with Luis Adlard back heeling the ball into the path of Piteu Crouz who fired low past the keeper from 15 yards out.

Shortly after, Sax’s hamstring went and, with no sub keeper on the bench, centre half Danny Burns stepped up and donned the gloves. His first job was to pick the ball out of the back of the net in the 23^rd minute when Hallam scored a third, on the break.

The Azzurri steadied the ship in the run in to half time and were in the ascendency for much of the rest of the half. Hallam were a little fortunate to get to the break with 11 men after a couple of very heavy Danny Patterson tackles that might both have got a yellow on another day. Azzurri disappointment was compounded by a disallowed Wellsy goal on the stroke of half time. The liner who’s surname was ‘Hallam’ (seriously) saw an offside. HT 3-1.

The second half didn’t start well for The Blues as Hallam netted from a long, diagonal free kick, 9 minutes after the restart.

The Boys in Blue reduced the arrears on the hour mark when Crouz was bundled over in the box then got up to convert the spot kick himself.

The last half hour was largely played at the Hallam end with Devonte Morton having a pair of gilt-edged opportunities to possibly get The Blues back into it but it was not to be. FT 4-2.

The performance wasn’t a bad one but the lack of a keeper was always going to make it difficult, especially against a decidedly committed Hallam side.

WEBMASTER MOTM – respect to Sax for going in the net in the first place, despite injury forcing him out again, early on. Then double respect to Burnsy for stepping up to the plate and playing well over an hour between the sticks, making several Pat Jennings-esque stops with his legs to keep the score respectable. Elsewhere, Luis Adlard was creative and Joe West was industrious. Up front Dev Morton was getting in the right areas and could have had a couple of goals. However, the Glitterball goes to the Crouz Missile for his brace of goals and a performance where he always looked a threat even when he was triple marked. Well done Piteu!

TWITTER POLL – Danny Burns manful performance in goal won it for him with Crouz just behind. Westy and Luis Adlard also polled. Thanks to all who voted.

351 through the gate with a considerable representation from South Elmsall. Thank you for supporting the lads.

We don’t have a game on Saturday and are next in action on Tuesday, 19^th October, at Bridlington Town, 7.45 pm ko. Hope to see you there.