Hallam bowed out of this season’s Emirates FA Cup after a brave showing against National League North Farsley Celtic.

Dan Pudil’s goal gave the Countrymen hope after Tom Allan and Darren Stephenson had put Farsley into an early lead.

But the sixth tier side’s quality showed in the end in front of Sandygate’s biggest crowd of the season so far.

65 league places separated the two sides ahead of kick off, and the National League side took the lead after just 6 minutes when defender Tom Allan swept home after a scramble from a corner. 

The Countrymen had a chance to respond when Alex Peterson turned Leon Howarth’s low ball wide of the mark.

Farsley doubled their lead just after the quarter hour mark when Stephenson broke the offside trap and calmly slotted home.

But Hallam found the response in remarkable fashion. Dan Pudil’s free kick was initially headed away, with the former Czech Republic international’s cross back into the box looping over debutant goalkeeper Liam Wilson and dropping into the net.

The visitors attempted a spectacular response of their own from the kick off, when Hugo Warhurst was called into action to turn a shot from kick off over the bar from the halfway line.

This spurred the Countrymen, and they had a chance to draw level when Jack Brownell’s low ball across the box beat everyone in the middle.

Leon Howarth’s cross almost forced Liam Wilson into another mistake shortly after.

The second half started more slowly for Craig Denton’s side, and the visitors restored their two goal lead when Stephenson placed the ball into the corner with a quarter of an hour to play.

Hallam had plenty of chances throughout the match in a spirited showing, and had a golden opportunity to claw themselves back into the game when Rio Allan’s effort was parried by Wilson straight into the path of Calum Ward, who blazed over from close range.

And the Countrymen came close again when Chris Salt struck the upright on the spin.

But the sixth tier side held on to book their place in the third qualifying round, and end Hallam’s best FA Cup run for a generation.

Joe, Hallam FC Media Team

Pic curtesy of Matt

Click on the image below to watch the match highlights