It was a repeat of last year’s Senior Cup Semi Final as Hallam FC defeated Stocksbridge Park Steels in front of 1,255 to book a place in the final at Hillsborough.
Fast forward seven months and an injury hit Hallam were looking for a repeat, though it wasn’t a pretty start for The Countrymen as they were dealt a blow before the game, with Jamie Sharman picking up a knock in the warmup.
Stocksbridge had the better of the opening stages under a floodlit Sandygate with Hugo Warhurst called into action.
Both sides were struggling to find their feet early on, before Hallam took the lead against the run of play on the half hour mark, with great work from Brodie Litchfield who used pace down the wing before helping the ball into the middle where Shaun Tuton was on hand to smash the ball home to score his first goal for the club and give Hallam an advantage to hold.
The lead didn’t last long however, as Stocksbridge were awarded a free kick which following a floated ball into the box Paul Iggulden bundled the ball across the line to level the game.
On the stroke of half time the visitors swung the game on its head. Successive corners resulted in Elliot Owen sliding the ball home to give Stocksbridge a deserved lead, that was the centre half’s third goal in two games at Sandygate.
The second half started out similarly to the first with neither side having any clear-cut chances. On 54’ a mistake in Hallam’s backline allowed James Morris a free run at goal, the attacker capitalised slotting past Warhurst and doubling Stocksbridge’s advantage.
With 20 minutes to play Calum Ward was subbed on and created a chance for Mason Warren which forced Michael Roxburgh into action. The Countryman had a lot of the ball in the closing stages and when Ward was brought down in the box there was only one man to take the penalty.
Ward scored and Hallam had four additional minutes to take the game to penalties, but it wasn’t to be for The Countrymen as Stocksbridge held out well in additional time to advance to the Third Round.
Hallam’s attention now turns to a tough game as we travel to high flying Bridlington Town.
Match Report by: Josh Howard
Photo Credits: Ian Manewell
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