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Worsbrough
Common 2 - 2 Sheffield Reserves
Saturday 6 September
Newly promoted Sheffield Reserve's season got off to
the best possible start when Tom Carney scored with a direct free kick in the first
minute after Eskante had been fouled just outside the area. Eskante had an opportunity
in Sheffield 's next attack; some neat play in right midfield ivolving Simpson, Cribley and Purkiss got the big striker in on goal
and it took some good defending by the home side to clear the danger. James Sayles
was brought into action at the other end when Sheffield lost possession and he had to beat away a cross from Dowle at the near post at the expense of a corner from which Smith blasted a half chance way over. Sheffield
doubled the lead on 12 minutes when Cribley found Eskante with a superb ball, the striker beat his marker and scored with
a great finish from the left. Sheffield were in total control and playing really well with the hosts very much on the back
foot. Carney had another opportunity soon after with a header from a good cross by Cronin
but his effort was straight at the keeper. Sheffield were forced to make a goalkeeping change after 20 minutes when Sayles
collided with Andy Taylor and with Sayles leaving the field it was Taylor himself who
took over in goal. Keir Hannity came on and started in midfield as the Sheffield back
line was re-organised. Sheffield continued to have the better of the play with Gascoigne
playing very well in midfield but it was Eskante who got in on goal next put through by another good ball from Cribley he
was well defended and the danger cleared. Hannity was making a big impact on the game and was involved a lot and he and Cronin
combined well but the latter's cross was hit high and wide of the Worsbrough goal. For the home side David Holmes had a great opportunity to score but mis-hit his shot with the Sheffield goal at his mercy. Worsbrough
were now getting better possession and forced a corner but it was Smith who scored after 36 minutes Sheffield suffering from
a lapse in concentration and giving away possession. However Sheffield were soon on the attack again and Eskante got a good
shot away following a nice ball from Purkiss. Another blow to Sheffield came in the dying minutes of the half when Eskante
was sent off for his reaction to a foul from a home defender.
Worsbrough had the first attempt on goal in the second
half but the first scoring opportunity fell to Sheffield in the 47th minute when Carney's direct free kick from 20 yards clipped
the crossbar. The 10 men started the half very brightly with Hannity doing particularly well. However Lloyd Gelsthorpe was now struggling with an injury and he had to be replaced by Phil
Miskell. Worsbrough got the equalising goal on 53 minutes when Taylor didn't get to a cross; it fell kindly to a home
striker who headed it over him and into the net. The next opportunity came to Sheffield when Purkiss saw his long range effort
spilled by Woodhead in the Worsbrough goal but the rebound squirmed just past the onrushing
Cronin. The home side should have scored just after this but the upright saved Taylor and Sheffield from going behind in a
game which after 15 minutes looked all over. Cribley got in a good run on goal but his effort was over the bar. Considering
their numerical advantage Worsbrough weren't able to press home thanks to some intelligent defending by Linnell. Gascoigne was having a good game and he brought the ball out and got it to Purkiss but his pass across
the Worsbrough penalty area wasn't one of his best. Cronin was released by good play from Cribley but playing alone upfront
he was well marshalled by the home defence. Danny Kavanagh replaced Cribley on 78 minutes
and when Cronin was fouled just outside the area Purkiss hit the free kick very well and from the resulting corner Hannity
went close with a good effort from close range. Kavanagh found himself unmarked at the far post and when Purkiss' cross found
him he met it well but the woodwork was there to deny him a goal and Sheffield the three points. The final action aw the home
side go close but good work in the goal from Taylor helped preserve the point for Sheffield .
Team: 1. James Sayles
(15. Keir Hannity), 2. Elliot Simpson, 3. Jon Linnell, 4. Andy Taylor, 5. Lloyd Gelsthorpe (16. Phil Miskell), 6. Andy Gascoigne
7. Ted Cribley (12. Danny Kavanagh), 8. Joel Purkiss, 9. Baba Eskante, 10. Keith Cronin, 11. Tom Carney, 14 Danny Moore.
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