Hallam FC

Frickley Athletic 2 - 1 Hallam FC

Hallam FC’s schedule of pre-season friendlies continued on a blisteringly hot Saturday afternoon when they travelled to Northern Premier League side Frickley Athletic.

In a match that Frickley could expect to dominate, it was Hallam who looked the livelier in the opening quarter of the game. However a well-taken long range effort from Frickley favourite Joe West saw the Blues take the lead on the 30th minute.

Hallam FC 4 -3 AFC Blackpool

After the enforced Covid-19 lockdown, it was wonderful to welcome football back to Sandygate, albeit without Hallam's amazing supporters. The guests at a chilly and damp Sandygate were AFC Blackpool for this first round tie of the FA Vase.

The weather conditions may have been cold with the occasional flurry of icicle-like rain, but both teams served up a scorcher of a game! With little more than two minutes on the clock, the Countrymen opened the scoring when a Hallam corner was converted by Max Pemberton. However almost from the restart, Blackpool were back in the game when Connor Ikin headed home the equaliser.

In the seventh minute, Kieren Watson's determination and persistence, refusing to give up on a ball that seemed destined for the Blackpool 'keeper's hands, gave him his first of the afternoon and Hallam's second.

Wakefield AFC 2 - 3 Hallam FC

A warm, Saturday afternoon saw Hallam FC make the trip to the Millennium Stadium in Featherstone for a pre-season friendly against newly-formed but highly ambitious Wakefield AFC. Playing in the iconic Featherstone Rovers rugby league stadium, the crowd of 225 (including a healthy following of Hallam FC supporters) were treated to a highly competitive game.

The opening ten minutes saw both sides pressing, but with few opportunities presenting themselves.

Hallam FC 1 – 2 Emley AFC

The Tuesday night visitors beneath the floodlights at Sandygate were high-flying Emley AFC. A Covid-capacity crowd of 300 welcomed both teams, with tickets having sold out on release day in a remarkable 46 minutes.

It was Emley who started the brighter but as the first half progressed Hallam began to find their rhythm, and started to exert pressure of their own. However in the 20^th minute some hesitant Hallam defending in their own box led to a clumsy challenge, and Emley were awarded a penalty kick. Kyle Willis duly obliged for the visitors. 1 – 0 to Emley AFC.

Hallam FC 3 - 2 Brigg Town

For the last time before Christmas, the Hallam faithful were welcomed back to Sandygate, with the Covid-restricted ticket allocation selling out in a remarkable two minutes and four seconds! The visitors were Brigg Town FC for this Northern Counties East League Division One match.

The first half got underway with instant end-to-end action, and both 'keepers played out of their skins, producing a series of outstanding saves. As the first half neared its end, it seemed the goalkeeping heroics would maintain the stalemate, until the 45^th minute when Brigg were awarded a penalty. Jack Bowskin converted, meaning that at half-time the Zebras' late penalty was the only difference between the two teams.

Hallam FC 3 - 1 Parkgate

HT - 0-1

Att - 300

On another decidedly autumnal day at Sandygate, Hallam FC were the hosts of this second qualifying round of the FA Vase, with league rivals Parkgate the visitors. All 300 tickets for the match sold out in less than 24 hours, meaning that once again there was another impressive display of supporters.

The game got off to a lively start, with Hallam creating a good goal-scoring opportunity within the first minute. The Countrymen continued to have a strong first half, with only the final touch missing in order to convert chances into goals. Yet, in the 21^st minute, it was Parkgate who struck first. A rebound off the Hallam 'keeper, David Reay, saw the ball fall to the feet of Frederick Tracey, who slotted it into the back of the net. As the half-time whistle blew the Steelmen were leading one nil, but there was still plenty of football left in this FA Vase tie, and all to play for.

Hallam FC 0 - 2 Shildon AFC

att: 150

For the first time since October, Sandygate welcomed back the Hallam faithful, this time a COVID-restricted crowd of 150. The Countrymen's opponents were Shildon AFC, from the Northern League Division One, for an FA Vase match under the cold December floodlights.

The first half saw both teams creating chances, with Hallam coming close to finding the back of the net on a number of occasions. But it was Shildon who sustained the most pressure, forcing Hallam's 'keeper Sam Andrew into making some smart saves. The Countrymen remained strong in defence, though, and following another fine save from 'keeper Sam Andrew, the scoreline remained level at 0-0 when the half-time whistle blew.

Hallam FC 5 - 3 East Hull

HT - 4-1

Att - 300

After the opening games of the season being played in warm and sunny conditions, the weather decided to remind us all that the Oldest Football Ground in the World really is 'on top of the hill'! It was a misty, chilly, and rainy Saturday afternoon when the Countrymen welcomed East Hull FC to Sandygate.

The weather may have been dull and grey, but from the first minute this was a bright firecracker of a game! With barely sixty seconds on the clock, the first attack by East Hull forced Hallam 'keeper David Reay to make a fine save. In response, the ensuing Hallam attack saw Kieren Watson score a splendid headed goal, putting Hallam in the lead in only the third minute.

A damp and overcast Saturday afternoon failed to subdue the spirits of the Sandygate faithful, and it was another Covid regulation sell-out crowd of 300 that welcomed the visitors, Nostell Miners Welfare.

The Sandygate faithful didn't have to wait long for Hallam to take the lead. In the 6^th minute, an assist by Jack Brownell saw Kieren Watson hitting the back of the Nostell net. Nostell's insistence to play the ball out from goal kicks put their defence under pressure for much of the first half, as the Hallam forwards hovered on the edge of the box, ready to pounce on any mistake. This pressure was rewarded in the 15^th minute when Christopher Wood capitalised on some poor Nostell play and scored a classic poacher's goal. 2 – 0 to the Hallam with just 15 minutes played.

Hallam FC 2 - 2 Retford FC

HT - 1-0

Att - 281

A decidedly Autumnal Tuesday evening, the warm weather of late having deserted Sandygate, saw Hallam FC's first game of the new season. The crowd of 281 included Marco and Tonchy, who had made the pilgrimage to the World's Oldest Football Ground all the way from Chile. The visitors beneath the floodlights were Retford FC.

The first half started brightly for both teams, with plenty of fearless, attacking football on display. Some full-blooded challenges saw a spate of free-kicks as the game became increasingly physical. Hallam FC's 'keeper, David Reay, produced a series of good saves to deny the visitors, and then in the 42^nd minute the Countrymen made the break-through when a clumsy challenge by the Retford defence resulted in a penalty. The spot-kick was coolly converted by Sandygate folk hero Kieren Watson.