Sheff 2s Cup Final Blog: March 2008

Tuesday, 25 March 2008

Cup Final 2008 v Southgate Video

Sunday, 23 March 2008

Wednesday, 19 March 2008

Cup Final Report - Sheffield HC Forum

Hearts of Lions, Balls of Sheffield Steel

Part two of our big weekend saw us heading south, so midafternoon, we piled all of our stuff into the minibus, checked our passports, and we were off on our Service station review on the M1.

Sandy, Mrs Hoots to you, volunteered to drive us, and from all of the guys a massive thank you!

The first set of services didn't come up to Jaspers high nutrional standards, and Jonny was still at junction 30 with the 3rd Team MoM and the rest of the TV crew. So we went to the next one.

M and S were in residence in the next set so we settled in for the wait. The OB Unit rolled into the car park, we squeezed Jonny into the van and off we went.

We arrived at the hotel, unpacked and then set off on a hunting trip. Suprisingly the first couple of places didn't want to feed 15 lads and 1 lady! Eventually Pizza Express, top work Hooter, supplied us with our pre match meal, and we retired to the Hotel.

For most of us the night passed without incident, but there was concern for the aged players in the side so in order to allow Brayo plenty of time to warm up, a early call (5am!) was arranged, this was compounded by the TV also coming on an hour or so later!

We arrived at the very impressive Southgate set up and started to settle down. Usual chat and banter, warm up and we were ready to start.

The game started at break neck speed and from the off we were under pressure. They were definately more skillfull and were probably the better side. We conceded an early shorty which was saved but shortly after we repeated the mistake. After 2 bites at the cherry the Southgate forward finally popped in the goal from a very acute angle. Then we turned the ball over and immediately conceeded a second, a fast break, good angled run and me being stood in No Mans Land, resulted in us going 2-0 down. This seemed to kick start our game and we then spent the next 20 minutes or so pressing them, but we weren't able to test their Keeper. Then tradegy, on the stroke of half time we conceeded a 3rd, poor channeling and naive tackling resulted in a well taken 3rd goal.

So at half time we were at the bottom of a deep hole.

I'll be honest, I didn't think we would get back in the game, and all I wanted was to make sure we finished the game having given 100%. But after all the talking we kept on going and going and going. Eventually we got a break through, we scored. Gay stepped up and goooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaallllllllll! This shut the crowd up a bit and their comments of "come on Sheffield give us a game", were changing to "come on Southgate put some pressure on". The worm had turned.

Not long to go and Simmo limps of the bench "to give Lewis 2" as Millsy was breathing out of arse. Some how, a ballsed up shortie routine resulted in Simmo smashing it straight down the middle and it was now 3-2. The crowd were getting nervous by now and despite all the Southgate fans all I could hear were shouts for Sheffield!! Then Simmo, not trusting his ankle to get his feet round, slotted the equaliser with about 2 mins to go, the celebration shut the crowd up, and resulted in some damage to the ceiling as one of the many Sheffield fans jumped a little too high!! On the final whistle we had shorty and chance to win but we were liking the pitch too much so decided to play some more!!

We were looking fresher and more up for it and set about the extra time with the same gusto that we had all game. The 15 mins flew by, and then the spectre of strokes was upon us.

I won't do a blow by blow account, but Jimbo, 1 touch, 1 goal. Tom North was our unfortunate player, but they still had to score the last one! There is always 1 bad flick, all you have to do as a Keeper is make sure you save it! The player was giving it eyes all over the place, except 1 corner. He was fiddling with his stick and shaking when trying to place the ball. I nearly went too far! But managed to keep it out.

Then sudden death. Brayo, goal. Their best player stepped up, he seemed to have wandered off, I didn't know why until after the game, ask Gay for more details! Anyway guessed right, nearly got nutmeg whilst flying through the air like a graceful salmon.

Then it all went a bit surreal. Time seemed to stand still and fly by at the same time? We had a an excellent journey back, sang a couple of songs, drank some "fizzy pop". Spoke to those that couldn't be there.

BUT, we arrived at some services, and something happened. Apart from Millsy's "little boy pee". Jasper was strolling thourgh the services, a voice pipes up
"Nay then where tha from?"
Jasper replied "We're from Sheffield and we've just won the National Final!"
"Yes. Come On" the stranger replied.

It was one of the most exciting games I have played in. Full credit must go the outfield boys, they left it out there. They had no idea of when to stop. Ham came of age, and was unlucky to have received 2 yellows in the game, Brayo rolled back the years. The back 4 provided the wall of steel across the pitch, the midfield showed the fluidity of steel and the forwards set about showing the true molten power of steel.

Southgate wanted us to roll over and give them the title, sorry but we're made of stronger stuff up north. Banter and comments are all well and good when you're winning, but they are proof that your mind isn't on the game, where ours most definately was!

Top effort lads.

Cup Final Report - Fixtures Live

Sheffield 'Steel' the title.........

If you were at Southgate HC on Sunday 9th March, I hope you enjoyed the game. I know I certainly did. Firstly the thank yous. Southgate, made us feel welcome from when we first arrived and provided us with excellent facilities. Sandy for driving us down there. The Sheffield Exec for supporting us in our cup exploits, I'm sure there are more, you know who you are so feel free to feel good!

Well we were back. 12 months on from our last final appearance and there were several questions to be answered the most important being "Could we go one further?"

Unlike last year when we went into a 2-0 lead at half time, we 'decided' to give a much better Southgate side a 3-0 lead. In the first half we didn't really generate any clear cut chances, but Southgate had 4 or 5 good chances, and scored 3. But for long periods of the half we were putting on the pressure, but not getting anywhere.

A chance to for Lewis Butcher to put things right. We then set about grinding out a result! Ben Farrar stepped up first popping a PC in, now we began to feel alive, and the crowd seemed some what less noisy.

Then we did the unthinkable, Nick Sims, limped of the bench and scored 2 of the most important goals of his life. We also had a PC on the final whistle, but were enjoying ourselves so much that we thought we'd play another 15 minutes.

Extra time flew by and we were in the lottery of strokes. Out of the first bank of 5, ours were not the most confident of strokes, but we scored 4. It went down the the final one and it needed to be save dto take it into Sudden Death. Saved.

Then up stepped Jon Bray, England Veteran and probably the oldest player on the pitch, goal. Then it was all down to Mark Wilson in the net to grab the title for Sheffield. Saved, cue the celebrations.

Commiserations to Southgate, who I think were technically a stronger side than Sheffield, but the Sheffield boys played with passion and pride and refused to lay down and eventually came out the winners.

Cup Final Report - Sheffield Telegraph

Comeback kings in sudden-death glory

What a day ... what a performance... what a team!

Take a bow Sheffield Hallam men's second team who won the England Hockey 2nd XI Cup in amazing style after a sudden-death penalty shoot-out at Southgate.

The fact that they even got that far was due to the comeback-of-all-comebacks which saw them snuff out a three goal first half reverse.

Balls of Sheffield steel, you'd better believe it.

Incredible team spirit and a never-say-die attitude have been key second team 'ingredients' this season and it showed in the second half as Ben Farrar's close range rebound after great work by Alex Bailey and Andy Mills down the right, brought them back into the match. Mid-way through the half they added a second courtesy of a penalty corner by Nick Sims and then two minutes from time Sims' reverse stick shot from a tight angle gave them the equaliser they so richly deserved.

Hallam could have won it with a penalty corner on the final whistle as it was the game went into 15 minutes of extra-time and then to penalties.

In the first bank of five, each team scored four - Jon Bray, Brett Holland, Jim Tasker, Ben Farrar were on target for Hallam - which brought about sudden death. Bray held his nerve to make it 5-4, Southgate missed theirs and it was party time! All the sweeter after losing last season's final in extra-time."

It was an unbelievable performance," said skipper Jim Tasker, who, despite being sidelined by a knee injury, slotted home one of the penalties."

This ranks even higher that winning the National Club KO cricket trophy with Collegiate back in 2000. The way the team battled back was just incredible; their team spirit and will to win is second to none.

"I'm really proud of them and let's not forget that Southgate are one of the leading club's in the country and this was our second match of the weekend," he added.

Cup Final Report - England Hockey

Men's 2nd XI Cup Final

SOUTHGATE 3 (3)
William Cottam 8,10 (PC,F)
Richard Blackburn 34 (F)

SHEFFIELD HALLAM MLS 3 (0)
Ben Farrar 45 (F)
Nick Sims 53,68 (PC,F)

*Sheffield Hallam MLS won 5-4 on penalty strokes.

The game was played in bright sunny conditions and with a good crowd watching the match was played at a cracking pace. Southgate had the better of the opening period but Sheffield were always a threat making good use of the ariel from the back.It was Southgate who took the lead however after 8 minutes when Richard Blackburn's penalty corner was well saved by the Sheffield keeper but William Cottam was on had to volley the ball into the net to the delight of the home supporters. Southgate immediately drove forward from the restart and had Sheffield pegged back. After 10 minutes William Cottam broke down the right, rounded the keeper and slotted home from a narrow angle.

Sheffield to their credit never gave up and despite being two goals down always looked a threat. It was Southgate though who increased their lead when Richard Blackburn, driving forward from midfield, struck the ball firmly into the goal from the edge of the D. Three goals ahead at the break put Southgate in a commanding position and their supporters expected them to press home their advantage and go on to win comfortably.

It was not to be though and after the half time interval Sheffield seemed to be pressing from all over the pitch despite going down to 10 men twice in the half for technical rather than nasty offences. Sheffield pushed an extra man in attack and Southgate were struggling to hold them out. Eventually the constant pressure told and Sheffield pulled one back 10 minutes into the 2nd half when Ben Farrar scored a rebound from close range after great work from Alex Bailey and Andy Mills down the right side. Mid way through the half they added a second from a penalty corner by Nick Sims who slammed the ball home with a strike from the top of the circle. Southgate were really wobbling but looked like they still had just enough gas in the tank to hold Sheffield out but it was not to be and in the 68th minute Sheffield got the equaliser they had worked so hard for when Nick Sims broke free of the Southgate defence to round the keeper and hit a reverse stick shot from a tight angle in the left hand side of the circle.

A tremendous achievement to come back from three down at half time and at full time Sheffield could have won it with a penalty corner on the final whistle. The corner was well defended by Southgate and the game went into extra time. Sheffield might have been favourites to push on and win the match but Southgate somehow hung on and the game went to penalties with Sheffield winning the shoot out 5 - 4 on sudden death after each side having one stroke saved in the first five.

Both sides should be congratulated for making the final such an exciting game for the spectators to watch and also playing the game in the right spirit. After losing in the final last year in extra time Sheffield were delighted to win the game.