First Team vs. Sutton Coldfield Town (2 : 3)

Sheffield FC’s unbeaten league run was brought to an end by an early flurry of goals from Sutton Coldfield Town, writes Ryan Watterson. The visitors were 3-0 ahead in just 16 minutes courtesy of a brace from Kristen Ramsey-Dickson and a goal from Luke Chapman. The home side battled back with a 21st minute goal from Jamie Hadfield and a late penalty converted by Steve Woolley, but a lacklustre performance at the back from Sheffield left both the supporters manager Curtis Woodhouse frustrated and disappointed.

The oldest club in the world were on a good run of form coming in to the game, avoiding defeat in the league since the 21st August. A dramatic final few minutes had earned them a point against Hucknall Town, coming from 3-1 behind to draw 3-3 and the side currently sat in 4th in the Evo Stik Division 1 South table. Curtis Woodhouse was clearly pleased with how the campaign had gone so far, saying “so far so good” and that “our never say die attitude is very pleasing”.

Meanwhile, today’s visitors Sutton Coldfield Town were sat in 15th in the league table. The Royals had yet to pick up a victory in the league in October and had lost their previous match 4-2 to Stamford in midweek.

The form book was thrown out of the window in the opening few minutes of the game, however, as the visitors dominated the play and took a commanding lead. It took just two minutes for Sutton Coldfield to take the lead when Kristen RAMSEY-DICKSON fired a strike from the edge of the area that left goalkeeper Liam Flynn with no chance.

Shaquille McKenzie was gifted an opportunity to level the score line just moments later when Steve Woolley burst down the wing and crossed the ball to the young striker in front of goal. The pressure clearly got to the young striker who scuffed his effort wide of the target to leave his side trailing.

The visitors made him pay for this missed chance when RAMSEY-DICKSON grabbed his and the Royals’ second goal of the game on the 14th minute. The striker left Warren Burrell for dead before chipping the ball over Flynn and in to the back of the net to double his sides advantage.

Just two minutes later it was 3-0 to the visitors, who were in the ascendancy and looked like scoring every time they went forward. Luke CHAPMAN turned past his marker and fired the ball in to the far corner to almost put the result beyond doubt after just a quarter of an hour.

The Sheffield side were in a state of shock as they had conceded 3 goals in just 16 minutes after coming in to the games as favourites. It was a huge mountain to climb for the home side but Jamie HADFIELD gave his side a glimmer of hope on the 21st minute. Woolley curled a free kick in to the box and Hadfield bundled the ball in at the far post to make it 1-3.

The game went rather quiet for the remainder of the half as Sheffield attempted to get back in to the game. The home side looked short of ideas as the Sutton Coldfield defence held out comfortably while still looking like they could cause problems at the opposite end.

As the break approached, McKenzie had another chance to score for Sheffield. Woolley once again charged down the wing and crossed the ball on to the head of the striker, whose effort flew over the crossbar.

The early exchanges of the second half were very scrappy with neither side taking control of the game. The Royals began to grow in to the half as they attempted to put the result beyond doubt. As the hour mark approached, the visitors came very close to doing so when Joel Kettle’s header was cleared off the line by Woolley.

Experienced forward Vill Powell replaced McKenzie as the Sheffield manager look to salvage something from the game. He almost had an immediate effect when Matt Roney’s free kick was deflected and fell straight to Powell, whose first time shot was instinctively saved by Sutton goalkeeper Lee Evans.

The chances were few and far between for either side as Sutton Coldfield appeared to settle with what they had while Sheffield’s attacks rarely managed to penetrate.

On the 87th the home side were handed a lifeline when Chris Adam was tripped by James Quiggin inside the area and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Woolley sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to make the score 2-3 but it proved to be too little too late as the home side fell to only their second league defeat of the season.

Curtis Woodhouse was clearly disappointed to be see his side defeated, telling how their “inability to defend” had cost them. The Sheffield manager also said that “we were poor and it would have been a travesty if we had gotten anything from the game”.

Man of the match Lee Featherstone impressed on his debut but told how he was “shell-shocked to be 3-0 down so early on” before going on to say that his overall goal with the club is “Promotion.”

Despite the defeat, Sheffield remain 4th in the league table although they are now 16 points behind leaders Coalville Town, albeit with three games in hand. Sutton Coldfield’s victory sees them move up to 12th in the table and keeps them away from the relegation zone.