Sheffield M2 2 - 1 Chesterfield M1s

Goalscorers: Josh Beardsley (PC)
Cards: Cam Taylor (Green), Olly Addy (Green)
MotM: Sam McPherson

Chesterfield HC Men’s 1s made the short trip down the A61 on Saturday evening to Abbeydale to face top of the table Sheffield Men’s 2s under the lights. Facing the end of Storm Claudia, the rain poured down from first whistle to last, but set the scene for an exciting clash.

Sheffield took an early lead with a nicely built up move down the right before finding a Sheffield forward unmarked the top of the circle before bringing his backhand shot to find the bottom right corner in the 5th minute. Chesterfield tightened up after the set back and grew back into the game, soaking up the spells of Sheffield pressure before carving out a number of good chances on the counter including one that fell to Callum Taylor whose backhand effort tested the Sheffield keeper.

Despite missing a trio of injured players in Will Beardshall (Collar Bone), Hayden Davey (Concussion) and Sam Barrett (Concussion), Chesterfield’s confidence grew as the half went on resulting in a number of successive attacks down the left side. Both Jack Hartley and then Ryan Speed managed to square a ball through the Sheffield defence only to find no Chesterfield player waiting on the back post to complete the moves. Half time came with the score locked at 1-0 with neither team able to add the finish their good passing moves.

The second half started brightly for Sheffield with their possession increasing by the minute. Chesterfield’s discipline in deep defence frustrated Sheffield into a number of passing errors off the sidelines, only to go and win it back with their high pressing. Chesterfield weathered the storm and started to build back into their familiar counter attacking ways. New Zealander Sam McPherson confirmed his Man of the Match performance with a number of key tackles to end a number of late Sheffield attacks, allowing Chesterfield finish the second half strong with a number of chances and force a number of good sliding clearing saves from the Sheffield keeper.

However, Sheffield struck with just 4 minutes left on the clock. A half clearance landed on the forehand of a Sheffield forward whose shot was deflected by a Chesterfield defender on the line over diving keeper Tom Grocock. Chesterfield rallied and sent a surging charge forward from the restart, and with the seconds ticking away, they managed to win a Penalty Corner with just 2 minutes on the clock. The resulting corner allowed Ryan Speed to dribble by the first runner and force a save from the keeper, before Josh Beardsley poked home the rebound through a scramble of bodies.

The men in green grabbed the ball and headed for the restart, with the final 90 second ticking away. Sheffield tried to regain control of the game, passing the ball around their own half before Olly Addy nicked possession on the right hand side, drove into the circle and won a Penalty Corner with only 20 seconds left. With everyone up in attacking positions, the ball was pulled out to Josh Beardsley on the left slip whose powerful slap to the back post clipped a foot before heading out of play. Confusion ensured as Sheffield celebrated the end of the game, while the umpires discussed what had just happened. After a brief discussion, the decision was penalty stroke!

With a point on the line, it was a 1 vs 1 battle between two captains to seal the fate of the game. Chesterfield skipper Jack Hartley stepped up…

…only to be bested by Sheffield captain and keeper, with a strong save down low to his left.

Despite a disciplined performance, a number of solid independent efforts and the frantic ending, the visitors were unable to complete their snatch and grab job. A wet day in Sheffield was over and the home side added 3 points to their table topping record with a 2-1 win.