Sheffield Fc 3 - 3 Coalville Town

"What a day for a game of Footie"... Heanor Town v Scarborough Athletic had been on the cards all week, but the sun has given Hales a chance to set about the garden at his new Gaff, so sooner than ride solo to Heanor, Dudsey has decided to spend the afternoon with Jamesie and Co at The BT Stadium.

Tbh I`ve been wanting to have a look at Coalville Town to see what the Champions elect have that has enabled them to dominate the league so far, although two draws and a defeat in the last three outings seem to have slowed The SS Coalville down a little.

My last visit to Dronfield was when they lost 2-0 to Leek Town, the game left me wondering what had happened to the Sheffield Fc of old, gone was the resilience, the bounce-back-ability was nowhere to be seen...yet for some strange reason I had a feeling a draw was on the cards this afternoon, never thought it would be such a cracker.

I arrive with about fifteen minutes to kick-off, Dudsey bumps into a Coalville supporter who`s clutching a can of 'Super Strength' near the entrance to the ground ...he`s Rat-Arsed, I point him in the right direction of the turn-stile although it looks like a waste of six quid to me

There`s a good turn-out and a great atmosphere around the ground as both sets of supporters have a vocal element. Within minutes of the start, it`s fairly obvious what Coalville have...Ryan Robbins, this lad is good.."seriously good", as quick and as skilful as I`ve seen so far this season.

'The Ravens' game looks to be centred on the deft pairing of Robbins and Kris Nurse, the long ball over the top looks very effective, especially when your keeper has a kick on him like a Mule, Sean Bowles can virtually clear the the pitch and he`s accurate with it too.

Sheffield are moving the ball about well, mainly down to some wide play through Matt Roney down the left and Jack Muldoon down the right with Woolley and Jack Waddle providing the back up. Both sides look equally as dangerous as one another but it`s the visitors who take the lead with a sweetly taken free kick from their skipper..Cameron Stuart after ten minutes.

Stuart stabs his free kick in 0-1

Still dusting themselves down from the restart, 'Club' get hit with a sucker punch as Robbins loses his marker and hits a rocket two minutes later which easily beats Adam Billard who has recently replaced Liam Flynn in goal, recently joining Sheffield from Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Thinking that this morning`s inkling was more of a 'Kiss of Death' for Sheffield I was hoping that it wasn`t going to end up a rout, yet surprisingly enough Sheffield actually looked their old selves and seemed totally unfazed by the double-whammy and they set about their game with a purpose once again.

Muldoon looks a real threat for the home-side whilst Robbins and Nurse continue to spear-head the visitors attack, Sheffield continue to press in what is a real end-to-end affair and both sides miss a couple of decent chances at either end before Sheffield get the break they are looking for as they are awarded a penalty which Steve Woolley has no trouble in converting.

Just as it looks as though the lads in red are getting back into the game, that man...Robbins strikes again,1-3 to the visitors with fifteen minutes of the first half remaining. Can Sheffield honestly pull back from this one?, not before half-time although the game is still flowing very well for both sides.

Dudsey relocates himself out of the falling Sun`s glare for the second half and pass by a few Coalville supporters who are trying to sneak a few drinks into the ground but the stewards are on their case.

Lee Cooksey gets delegated the unenviable task of man-marking Coalville`s ace striker for the second half and is doing it a decent job at keeping him at bay in the opening period, Sheffield are proper on it from the re-start.

Woolley has dropped off into the mid-field and is leaving Gascoigne and Muldoon to do it at the sharp end and it`s really working. Coalville are starting to look second best yet still pose a threat through Nurse, Robbins and Carney with some good support from Lewis Dodd.

Having the bit between their teeth, Sheffield continue to press and are putting the visitors defence to the test, when they do eventually manage to penetrate Coalville`s efficient defence, but Bowles is really proving his worth as he pulls off some quality saves.

Coalville make a break but Hatfield and Burrell soon have the ball under control and heading back in the opposite direction, Woolley threads a ball through to Muldoon who has found himself in plenty of space on his own out on the left. Thinking it`s too much for him to do solo he proves the Sheffield faithful wrong and goes all the way and beats Bowles with a class finish, 2-3 just after the hour.

Muldoon pulls another back - 2-3

Ian Whitehorne`s second half strategy is working to a tee, Sheffield`s game is flowing, Matt Roney is romping down the right wing and the crowd are expectant that a point at least is up for grabs as the game restarts, and within two minutes it`s 3-3 as Woolley  get`s his second of the game.

Coalville look rattled and don`t look accustomed to being dominated, the frustration leads the game into a bit of an ugly finale, game-play, squaring-up and eventually handbags take over from what was a really absorbing game. Roney picks up a booking and stupidly gets sucked into another almost immediately for a tangle on the edge of the box, resulting in his marching orders.

Down to ten men, Gascoigne is sacrificed for Shak McKenzie but Sheffield still manage to press-on and the confidence that the game is up for grabs leads to a very open and exciting run-in. Coalville introduce Jerome Murdoch and it`s a battle and a half till the final whistle sounds after six tense minutes of extra-time.

What a belter of a game from two sides determined to take the spoils, definitely one of the best tussles Dudsey has witnessed so far this season. Adam Stevenson keeps Coalville on the pitch for a discussion after the final whistle and although he must be disappointed, looking at what they have it would be hard to see them surrendering their top spot lightly.

Sheffield on the other hand put in a shift and a half for the last forty five and were well worth the draw if not unlucky not to steal all three points, although across the ninety minutes it could have finished up seven apiece.


My Men of the Match - Sheffield; Muldoon (Quality 2nd half) and Cooksey (kept Robbins out of the 2nd half). Coalville; Robbins (Electric) and Bowles (Excellent Keeper).

Teams : Sheffield - Billard, Eagers, Waddle, Burrell, Hadfield, Cooksey, Roney, Stirrup, Muldoon, Gascoigne, Woolley.  Subs - McKenzie, Al-Hakam, Powell, Taylor, Colley.

Coalville - Bowles, Jenno, Stuart, Miveld, Hill, Kay, Woodward, Dodd, Nurse, Carney, Robbins. Subs -Murdock, Way, Leigh, Powell, Gibson


Match Pictures - Click Here

Admission £6

Attendance: 

286