James Cadman’s audacious lob was the pick of the action at Sandygate as the Countrymen continued their push for promotion with a 2-0 victory over Frickley Athletic, who had their safety confirmed before their visit to Craig Denton’s side.

The first half, while a tough watch for those in attendance, did see multiple sights of goal for both sides; James Cadman saw an effort come to nothing while Brandon Bradbury’s cross just a few minutes later was unable to find Leon Howarth at the far post to convert. Alfie Smith also saw an headed effort from a corner fly just wide early on.

With the visitors already safe and the shackles of a relegation battle off, they were always going to pose a threat to the Countrymen’s defence, especially through bright spark Marcel Chipamunga, whose cross in towards Thomas Alngohuro at the far post just evaded him, while another cross almost caught out Hallam stopper Hugo Warhurst, but the man between the sticks was alert enough to collect the ball.

Rio Allan was the next player to test his luck for the hosts, only for former Hallam no. 2 William Sykes to collect the winger’s strike at the second time of asking before saving another Allan strike ten minutes after that.

Frickley continued to threaten through Luke Hinsley and Reuben Brewin-Hawkins, only for their efforts to not come to fruition from successive corners. Harry Gagen was also unlucky not to see his curling shot fly into the top corner shortly after that.

With the second 45 not even five minutes old, Hallam captain Danny South was brought down in the box, leaving referee Matthew Blaney no choice but to award a spot kick to the hosts. Rio Allan stepped up to the task from 12 yards, but failed to complete it as he saw his low effort saved by Sykes before hitting the post on the rebound before the ball was cleared.

Jack Brownell, who was named Man of the Match towards the end of this clash, was unfortunate not to see his brilliant free kick sneak in at the near post five minutes later, with many feeling that it wasn’t going to be Hallam’s day.

This game, in truth, needed a bit of magic to bring it to life, and James Cadman supplied it in the 64th minute. After Danny South’s header towards Cadman from Hugo Warhurst’s goal kick, the Hallam no. 8 let the ball bounce once before spotting Sykes off his line from a long way out and produced a quite brilliant lob over the visiting goalkeeper to open the scoring (1-0).

It was a deserved goal as the Countrymen had dominated the second half thus far, and the advantage could have been strengthened just a few minutes later when Jamie Sharman turned and struck the ball from close range, only to see his shot just about evade the roof of the net. A header from Alfie Smith also went wide from a free kick.

The three points were sealed deep into stoppage time at the end of the game when the hosts doubled their lead. Man-Of-The-Match Jack Brownell made a good run down the right hand side before delivering a pinpoint ball towards the near post where substitute Adam Blakeley was waiting to pounce, and did so, as he directed the ball past William Sykes to kill the game (2-0).

It was a win that Hallam were made to fight for, but Craig Denton’s men got the job done in front of 717 supporters in attendance at Sandygate. However, the focus is now on Tuesday (18th March) when Stocksbridge Park Steels visit the Countrymen as they fight for a place in the final of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Senior Cup.

Hallam: Warhurst, Brownell, Sharman, South (C), Bradbury, Lipka, Cadman, Allan, Howarth, Smith, Pudil

Frickley Athletic: Sykes, Butchart, Gagen, Brewin-Hawkins, Cawthorn, Mannings, Chipamunga, Spence, Hinsley, Makwiramiti, Alngohuro

Match Report – Jensen Coleman

Match Pictures – Peter Willis

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