The Home of Football Stadium, home of Sheffield FC based who play their home games just outside of Sheffield in nearby Dronfield, North East Derbyshire. The first ever Football Club in the World!!!! Think of every memory you have had in football with your team. It all started in 1857 when this little football club was formed!! Still to this day, the club plays in the English non-league and is proud of it and why not!!
Runcorn Linnets of Cheshire the visitors today in an FA Trophy qualification game, but first it’s the Merseyside Derby! Come on you Reds!!!… VAR you absolute @*%$!!! Let’s focus on Sheffield against Runcorn instead… I did NOT enjoy listening to the Everton fans in the bar celebrating that one…
£11 to watch this FA Trophy Qualification tie! Phenomenal! Kick Off! Referee! I know you! A former work colleague of mine in charge today. “The Referee’s a… No he’s not really!” Both teams getting a feel for the ball early on but no real conviction as of yet. 7 minutes in and the ball is worked forward by Sheffield FC, on the edge of the area and the ball is played to Cody Prior, he goes for goal from 20 yards… AND FINDS IT!!! WHAT A GOAL!!! Top Bin Literally!! No keeper in the world would save that! It’s not going to be 0-0 today!! It’s 1-0 to Sheffield.
Sheffield FC beginning to look the better team now and starting to have more of the ball. 26 minutes gone now and Sheffield come again, Turner with the ball on the right and he crosses… Headed towards goal and OFF THE BAR!! It is a corner, the Runcorn defence stop the cross but only just avoiding an own goal there. The corner comes in… Headed at goal… Cleared by Runcorn but only just.
The game starting to even out now and Runcorn beginning to come out of their shell now. Stoppage time in the first half and a free kick given by the referee, Sheffield fans aren’t happy with that one. Craig Lindfield takes… AND SCORES!!! Across the wall and into the far corner and it’s 1-1! Right on half time and that is how the score remained at the break.
Second half, the game becoming an end to end affair with both teams creating chances. 55 minutes gone and here come Runcorn, Crilly with the ball who finds RYAN BROOKE!!! SAVED by the keeper! 58 minutes now, Runcorn with the ball again, the ball played to Murray and he’s through, he goes for goal… Saved! The ball is loose and it falls to RYAN BROOKE!!! IT’S 2-1 to Runcorn!!! Ryan Brooke runs in and finishes off the rebound!
The game beginning to heat up with strong challenges coming in and Runcorn players on the receiving end and abuse from the Sheffield fans. “GET UP YOU SOFT £$@#!!” You’ve got to love non-league! 76 minutes gone and Sheffield coming forward into the Runcorn half. The ball is lofted into the area, flicked on, the ball is loose and falls to ASHLEY GRAYSON… 2-2!!!! Grayson in the right place at the right time and he couldn’t miss. It could be penalties after all!
End to end stuff once again, it could finish 3-2 to any of these teams here I thought. 90th minute and Sheffield come forward, the ball falls to Purkiss!! Blocked by Runcorn!! Corner for Sheffield, in it comes… And cleared. Stoppage time now! Runcorn come forward, a foul given away and a booking for the Sheffield culprit. The free kick is lofted forward into the Sheffield box, the ball falls to Sean O’Mahony with the header… IT’S THERE!!! Right at the death!!! The header loops over the Sheffield keeper in off the bar and that should be that!
The Sheffield FC players with their heads in their hands now, it can be a cruel game sometimes. One last chance as Sheffield come forward, screams of a foul by the Sheffield fans, advantage played, it’s Wonham for Sheffield 30 yards out and he goes for goal… SO CLOSE!! OH MY WORD!!! That would have been the best goal I would have ever seen live at a match but it goes just wide for Sheffield and that is game, set and match to Runcorn!! A great game for the neutral and a great advert for non-league football!!
The Coach & Horses bar is calling for me now, some fine lagers in here!! My kind of bar!!!!
FT: Sheffield FC 2-3 Runcorn Linnets
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – Not much singing from any fans today but a very friendly atmosphere was there with light hearted banter between players in particular the Runcorn keeper with a group of fans behind his goal throughout.
- The Ground: 7/10 – It’s a great ground and an iconic one of that with a fantastic bar attached just outside of it! If you like your foreign beers, give it a try!
- Expense: 10/10 – £11 to watch 5 goals and late drama!! Love it!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – A great day out! The friendliness of the town and the fans made it for me! The players being really close with the fans and clapping both teams off at the end was brilliant! The World’s first leading by example!!
30/40