Tag Archives: Evo-Stik League Division One South

Sheffield FC continue run of defeats against Rushall Olympic

Posted on by Chris Ledger

Sheffield FC's home match against Rushall Olympic was attended by 290 supporters.

Sheffield FC 2 Rushall Olympic 3

Sheffield FC suffered their third consecutive defeat in the Evo-Stik League Division One South, after a narrow defeat to play-off hopefuls Rushall Olympic.

Prior to the match, Sheffield FC’s poor form did not stop them from being 17 points clear off the relegation zone and, if results went their way, Rushall Olympic had the opportunity to move into the play-off places.

Early pressure built

It was Rushall Olympic who started the match positively, when former Kidderminster Harriers striker Matt Lewis’ chip went over the bar within the first couple of minutes.

Christian Dacres’ tame shot from just outside the penalty area was comfortably saved by ex-Chesterfield goalkeeper Dan Whatsize, a minute later, after some good work from Lewis and Ahmed Obeng. Danny Lennon’s sliding shot, meanwhile, just went wide of the right-hand post in the sixth minute.

The away side continued their early pressure, as Sheffield FC struggled to contain their attacks, and it came as no surprise when Callum Harrison brought down Lewis just outside the penalty area.

The awarded free-kick, taken by Grant Beckett, was smartly turned away by Whatsize and it was the resulting corner that led to the game’s first goal. Nick Amos headed in Danny Ashton’s whipped ball past Whatsize to give the away side a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.

The Pics should have doubled their lead a minute later, as Whatsize’s mistimed headed clearance fell into the path of a racing Lennon who managed to miss an open goal in the penalty area.

The former Oxford City striker nearly made amends immediately after, as he linked up well with Beckett, but Lennon’s shot went inches wide.

It was not meant to be third time lucky for Lennon as, after being set-up by Dacres in the 19th minute, his shot was parried away by Whatsize onto the post.

Their opponents soon went onto the counter-attack, as Chris Adam’s through-ball reached Joel Purkiss and his shot also hit the post.

The home side should have been two goals down, though, when Obeng managed to find space on the flanks. Whatsize turned his shot away and Lennon outpaced Jack Smith to tap in the rebound, only for the striker to be caught offside.

A first half equaliser

Sheffield FC slowly started to get back into the game, as Smith’s dangerous set-pieces were causing problems and Purkiss forced Curtis Gemmell to make two comfortable saves.

Steve Woolley’s shot, in the 35th minute, went wide of Gemmell’s right-hand post, after some good work from Harrison and Cyrus Lewis.

They were soon rewarded for some promising play, when Gemmell brought down Adam on the edge of the penalty area. Adam then shocked the visitors by curling in a free-kick, from a difficult angle, past the stranded Gemmell to give the home side an equaliser in the 36th minute.

Woolley later managed to find James Gregory’s pass, on the brink of half-time, but he could not find the space to squeeze a shot past Gemmell.

Second half goals

The second half saw some early chances, as Purkiss and Lewis wasted opportunities to put both sides in front. It was the visitors who regained their one-goal advantage when former Sheffield Wednesday defender Jamie Hadfield connected with Obeng in the penalty area, after 61 minutes.

Lewis converted the penalty after sending Whatsize the wrong way and they extended their lead, in the 64th minute, when Ashton poked in Obeng’s defence-splitting pass from close range.

Sheffield FC tried to get back into the game and they were unlucky when Jonah Gosling’s cross was punched away by Gemmell, and the rebound from Andy Gascoigne forced a point-blank save from the former Birmingham City goalkeeper. Whatsize also made an excellent save from Lewis’ free-kick and Ashton later flicked Anthony Maguire’s cross wide.

The home side managed to score a consolation goal, with four minutes to spare, when substitute Ant Lynam’s free kick was deflected off Ashton’s ankle and went past Gemmell.

Obeng’s lob went over the bar in the 89th minute but, despite an injury-time onslaught from Sheffield FC’s attackers, Rushall Olympic held on to secure a valuable three points to keep their promotion bid alive.

Starting line-ups

Sheffield FC: Whatsize, J.Smith, Davis, Lewis, Hadfield, Harrison (Gosling, 62), Gregory, Gascoigne, Purkiss (Lynam, 65), Adam, Woolley (O’Brien, 83)
Goalscorers: Adam (35), Ashton (86, Own Goal)

Rushall Olympic: Gemmell, Spittle, Amos, Smith, Ashton, Beckett, Davies, Blythe, Lewis, Obeng, Lennon (Maguire, 65)
Goalscorers: Amos (13), Lewis (61), Ashton (64)

Sheffield FC defeat Shepshed Dynamo in five-goal thriller

Posted on by Chris Ledger

Sheffield FC's 3-2 victory over Shepshed Dynamo was attended by 269 supporters.

Sheffield FC 3 Shepshed Dynamo 2

Managerless Sheffield FC fought back from a two-goal deficit to beat fellow Evo-Stik League Division One South strugglers Shepshed Dynamo.

And, prior to the match, both sides were in poor form as Sheffield FC had secured only four points out of a possible 24, while second-from-bottom Shepshed Dynamo had won three of their last 30 league matches.

A dominant start

The visitors made a bright start to the match when former Nottingham Forest full-back Jordan Fairclough set up Rob Norris, only for his attempt to be cleared by Daz Winter. They continued to create chances in the opening minutes of the match, as Dan Whatsize managed to save Norris’ shot when the former Boston United forward connected with Aidan Brady’s cross.

It was the awarded corner that was the catalyst for the game’s first goal, which was scored after just five minutes. Norris whipped the ball into the penalty area and an unmarked Greg Smith headed the ball past Whatsize. Dynamo could have doubled their lead, just minutes later, when Dean Oliver’s header forced a difficult save from the impressive Whatsize.

The away side continued to attack and they scored their second goal after 12 minutes. Sheffield FC’s defence struggled to break down some good link-up play from Dynamo’s forwards, and it was Norris who found the space to slot the ball past Whatsize. Norris could have created a third goal but Oliver put a free header wide, while Whatsize made an excellent save from former Carlton Town defender Sam Leggitt.

The turning point

The game changed on the 22nd minute, when Smith was sent-off for a reckless two-footed tackle on Andy Gascoigne. Sheffield FC took full advantage of this, as James Gregory’s header went inches over the bar. The home side got back into the match when Brian Cusworth delivered the ball into the penalty area for Ant Lynam, who steered it past Saxby to make the score 2-1.

Dynamo still had chances to score, despite being down to ten-men, when Oliver headed Norris’ free-kick over the bar. It was the home side who looked the most likely team to score, though, as captain Matt Roney’s chip was palmed away by Saxby, after the former Nuneaton Borough goalkeeper weakly punched his corner away.

A winning battle

Sheffield FC started the second half well, with Roney – who was making his 200th appearance for the club – being a constant threat on the wings. They found an equaliser in the 47th minute, when Gregory latched onto a defence-splitting pass and found enough space to curl the ball past Saxby. The young winger could have scored a second goal just moments later, after connecting with Winter’s free-kick, but was denied by Iain Screaton’s block.

The Dronfield-based outfit continued to create chances as Roney’s smart chip went just wide, whilst Lynam’s powerful shot clipped the post in the 61st minute. The home side found a winner, though, when a penalty was awarded, after Screaton brought down Roney in the area. Saxby saved Gascoigne’s penalty, but the former Mansfield Town midfielder tapped in the rebound from close range to score his 13th goal of the season.

Substitute Justin Jenkins nearly grabbed a dramatic last-minute equaliser for the visitors, but Whatsize produced a fine point-blank save to secure all three points for Sheffield FC. It is the club’s first victory under caretaker manager Gavin Smith – who was appointed last week after Chris Dolby’s resignation – and will ease any faint relegation fears, as they have moved up to 16th place in the league.

Starting line-ups

Sheffield FC: Whatsize, Starosta (Hadfield, 10), Davis (Woolley, 64), Winter, White, Harrison, Roney, Gascoigne, Cusworth, Lynam (Purkiss, 79), Gregory
Goalscorers: Lynam (26), Gregory (47), Gascoigne (77)

Shepshed Dynamo: Saxby, Fairclough, Kirton (Whyley, 76), Leggitt (Steadman, 64), Dean, Screaton, Norris (Jenkins, 85), Bolland, Oliver, Smith, Brady
Goalscorers: Smith (4), Norris (12)

Sheffield FC draw with Carlton Town after wonder goal

Posted on by Chris Ledger

The 1-1 draw between Sheffield FC and Carlton Town was attended by 209 supporters.

Sheffield FC 1 Carlton Town 1

Brian Cusworth’s late bicycle kick earned Sheffield FC an excellent draw against Evo-Stik League Division One South high-flyers Carlton Town.

Both teams made good starts to the encounter, which was held at Sheffield FC’s BT Local Business Stadium.

Sheffield FC’s James Gregory created some early pressure and in-form Carlton Town striker Massiah McDonald tested goalkeeper Dan Whatsize early on, after some good long-balls from Daniel Fletcher and Deon Meikle.

Former Buxton winger Matt Roney then found some space in the penalty area for the home side, but his shot was cleared by Robert Darkin. The veteran Millers’ goalkeeper Neil West also tipped Roney’s shot over the bar, just minutes later.

An early goal

It was Carlton Town, however, who took the lead. Former Mansfield Town midfielder Curtis Shaw created space for Terry Hawkridge, who managed to skip past three defenders in the penalty area to calmly slot the ball past Whatsize after 15 minutes.

The home side immediately wasted an opportunity to get back into the game, after Gregory blasted a shot just over the bar. McDonald then broke free for the Millers shortly afterwards but, again, his shot went over the bar.

The young striker, who scored four goals in three matches prior to Saturday’s encounter, had another chance to score, but was thwarted by Gavin Smith’s block.

Missed chances

Sheffield FC then had their best chance to equalise in the 35th minute. Gregory was brought down in the penalty area by West and a penalty was awarded. Cusworth hit the ball centrally, but West made up for his mistake by making a superb diving save.

Whatsize also had to be at his best, as he produced a fantastic double save. He saved Josh Thornton’s lob, and then stopped former Northampton Town striker Neil Grayson’s rebound with his legs.

The home side quickly went onto the counter attack as West brilliantly parried Roney’s long chip, which looked destined to go in.

The second half

Carlton Town started the second half brightly, as Meikle tested Whatsize with a long range shot. Meikle then scored the resulting rebound, but this was ruled out for offside. Grayson was then denied his 16th goal of the season, after Whatsize made another save.

As Sheffield FC struggled in the second half, the game changed when Carlton Town substitute Nick Hall was introduced late on. Within seconds of coming onto the pitch, he made a dangerous two-footed lunge on Davis.

The former Sheffield Wednesday defender was lucky not to be injured and Hall was even luckier to only receive a yellow card. The visitors should have wrapped the game up after this, when Whatsize managed to turn substitute Antwon Bonnick’s attempt on goal away.

A spirited comeback

The visitors were left to rue their missed chances, when Cusworth scored his 21st goal of the season. He met Joel Purkiss’ cross with a stunning bicycle kick, after the Millers struggled to deal with Smith’s free-kick.

This earned a valuable point for the struggling Dronfield-based outfit and ends their run of three consecutive home defeats.

Starting line-ups

Sheffield FC: Whatsize, Wright, Davis, Smith, Lowe, Winter, Roney (Ruddiforth, 65), Cooksey, Cusworth, Clark, Gregory (Purkiss, 90)
Goalscorer: Cusworth (90)

Carlton Town: West, Darkin, Fletcher, Shaw, (Hall, 78), Kitchen, Hawkridge, Thornton, Naylor, Grayson, McDonald (Bonnick, 84), Meikle
Goalscorer: Hawkridge (15)