Hallam FC

Hallam FC 4 - 0 Worsborough Bridge

Wahey! "@HallamFC1860 have only gone and won the bloody league!" Well, barring a sequence of results that even Kim Jong Un would find ‘a bit implausible’ anyway. And it all felt, well, a bit familiar.

A win delivered with, if not ease, then fairly minimal fuss.

Hallam FC 2 - 1 Ollerton Town

It’s at that point in the season for @HallamFC1860 when it doesn’t matter how they get three points as long as they do.

Which was just as well tonight. It had all started so well. More or less straight from the kick-off they moved the ball neatly around an Ollerton side who hadn’t woken up and allowed Bradbury to volley home.

To Ollerton’s credit, they sorted themselves out quickly and a period of high tempo running around to very little net effect followed.

Hallam FC 7 – 2 Teversal FC

On an uncharacteristically glorious Spring afternoon, the Oldest Football Ground in the World welcomed 649 supporters to witness what would be a fascinating clash between high flying Hallam and bottom team Teversal.

Any thoughts of this being a one-sided affair with Hallam scoring a cavalcade of goals were quickly dispelled when, on the 5th minute, Hallam were unable to effectively clear their defensive lines, allowing Lewis Macaskill to open the scoring for Teversal. The opening quarter of the game continued to be an even affair, but any creeping nerves about the outcome of this match were eased in the 20th minute. The always dangerous Iren Wilson broke through the Teversal defence, displaying his trademark speed and tenacity, before unselfishly crossing the ball and allowing the equally dangerous Liam Royles a simple tap in.

Glasshoughton Welfare 1 - 2 Hallam FC

We arrived at the Glasshoughton Welfare ground and was greeted to a walm welcome by the gate meister and his young apprentice. It was for once a sunny day, and with the previous few weeks of petulant storms this felt like spring was incoming.

The pitch was dry but looked like it could do with some un-bobbling treatment. The club’s chairman, who was also the burger flipper for the day, tells us the usual story of Club Vs Council which is not unfamiliar at this level of football. For the record the burgers he flipped were good especially with the addition of a processed cheese slice.

Hallam FC 7 - 2 Rainworth 

So after the weekend’s efforts to get 6 points clear at the top, would Hallam FC get caught by a sucker punch from lowly Rainworth and plunged back into uncertainty? Er, no. No they wouldn’t.

Fans of tension and jeopardy were disappointed very early on by their frequent nemesis, Iren Wilson, only a couple of minutes in.

Hallam FC 4 - 5 Parkgate FC

A properly filthy day at Sandygate - all wind, rain and heavy turf - might have done something of a number on the football , but not the entertainment. It all started so well with Iren Wilson getting into the Parkgate defence and finishing with real calm and quality.

Hallam FC 3 - 1 North Ferriby

Leagues aren’t won six games out, but by beating North Ferriby, HallamFC1860 have given themselves a couple of extra lives for the run-in.

Another four figure crowd of 1048, with plenty from Humberside, gathered to see the top two face off in what was always likely to be a close game.

It started very evenly, both sides having a few half-chances before North Ferriby opened the scoring after 15 minutes, working their opening well. It didn’t affect the balance of the game though and Hallam kept themselves in it, getting particular joy with balls over the shoulder of Watson, Wilson and Royles troubling Ferriby’s relatively high line.

Hallam FC 5 – 1 Harrogate Railway Athletic FC

With Hallam FC sitting at the top of NCEL Division One and Harrogate Railway looking to cement a position in the play-off spots, the stage was set for an intriguing contest at Sandygate in front of another impressive crowd of 712.

It did not take Hallam long to register the first goal of the afternoon. In the 7th minute, Kieren Watson latched on to a delightful through ball from strike-partner Iren Wilson and slotted the ball beneath the out-rushing Harrogate ‘keeper. Going a goal down so early in the game against a free scoring Hallam side would be enough to give most teams cause for concern. However, Harrogate were not intimidated and began to dominate play, searching for an equaliser.

Dronfield Town FC 2 – 3 Hallam FC

A good contingency of Countrymen made the short journey over the Derbyshire border to support Hallam FC playing away at local rivals Dronfield Town, a healthy crowd of 326 making their way inside the HE Barnes stadium. While other local games had fallen foul of water-logged pitches, the Dronfield Town ground staff had done a grand job, ensuring this NCEL Division One clash was never in doubt.

Hallam FC 3 – 2 Brigg Town FC

Following 24 hours of rain, there were concerns that the December 28th game at Sandygate would be postponed. However an early morning pitch inspection revealed that the hallowed turf had held up well, and thanks to work by Hallam’s amazing team of volunteers, the match would go ahead. This was great news for the football fans of Sheffield looking for a Yuletide match to attend, and an amazing crowd of 1128, including a sizeable (and very vocal) contingency from Brigg Town, turned out to cheer on their teams.