Coach & Horses Ground Saturday, October 12th, 2013   Northern Premier Div. 1 South Attendance: 274         Sheffield FC 2-0 Kidsgrove Athletic
2013 /14

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First Team vs. Kidsgrove Athletic (2 : 0) Saturday, 12 October, 2013 - 15:00 Evo-Stik League First Division South _MG_4822_MG_4854_MG_5034_MG_5077 Sheffield FC earned three valuable points, writes Stuart James, as they turned in an impressive attacking performance to beat Kidsgrove Athletic on a wet and slippery Home of Football pitch. Joel Purkiss scored for the third game running after 38 minutes, to give the home side a well-deserved half time advantage, and when leading scorer Andrew Gascoigne struck an excellent solo effort four minutes after the restart there was only one - and thoroughly deserved - winner. It was a difficult opening for both sides, as despite holding up remarkably well, the greasy surface proved an awkward platform for all the players to perform. Club were the ones who were on top first however, with a couple of efforts going close, and Andrew Gascoigne was the closest after Joel Purkiss set the midfielder up with a great chance that was squandered. James Gregory and Andrew Gascoigne did some great work, setting up Steve Woolley with an effort, with Danny Read doing well in the difficult conditions to deny the hosts. Club were the ones looking most likely to break the deadlock, however despite all the pressing, they were unable to breach the Grove backline. The closest they came was on the half hour mark, as the ever dangerous James Gregory broke down the wing to supply Zeph Thomas with a great chance, only for the striker to see his header bounce off the bar. The deadlock was eventually broken with Gregory once again the architect, with the lively winger’s cross flapped at by Read, with the ball landing on the head of PURKISS who had no problem nodding home (left). Club had a rare scare just before the interval, as home keeper Rob Poulter hooked a ball directly into the path of Tom Urwin, fortunately from the home side’s perspective the ball was lofted high wide and not very handsome. It didn’t take that long after the restart for Sheffield to wrap matters up, as GASCOIGNE picked up the ball on the edge of the area, and beating several defenders to find the opening to drive beyond Read. If anything the second goal spurred Grove into action, and they started to rattle the hosts a little, hitting the bar and going close on a couple of occasions. Sheffield rode the little storm and soon started to impose themselves, with Gregory being a major imposition on the game, and Stuart Ludlam really testing Read with a rasping effort from distance. From here it was going to be only one winner, and despite hitting the bar and Thomas going close for the home side, Sheffield were able to coast home for an uncomplicated and settled win. Photos courtesy of Richard Greenfield. Photos by John Wright HERE Sheffield FC: Poulter, Ludlam, Turner, Stirrup, Burgin ©, Hadfield, Gregory (Cribley), Gascoigne (Roney), Thomas, Purkiss, Woolley. Subs Not Used: Fereday, Algar. Kidsgrove Athletic: Read, Street ©, Grocott, Parkinson, Johnson, Dove, Urwin (Twigg), Yates, Reaney (Wakefield), Haddrell, Corden (Wilkinson). Sub Not Used: Buckle. Attendance: 274 Man of the Match: Richard Stirrup