SHIREBROOK SUFFER FIRST DEFEAT UNDER NEW MANAGER

Robbie Savage goal wasn’t enough as Hallam left Langwith Road with all 3 points

ATT 124

MOTM Widdowson

Hallam started the game the stronger of the 2 sides with ex Shirebrook player Kieren Watson going close to opening the scoring within the first few minutes and Hallam kept pushing with chances coming and going for a number of Hallam players but in the 26th minute Shirebrook took the lead when a mistake by a Hallam defender allowed Ban Charlesworth through 1 on 1 with the Hallam keeper having left the Hallam defence for dust he squared the ball to Robbie Savage who tapped the ball into an empty net however the Shirebrook lead didn’t last long as Hallam were level within a minute when Watson fired home however Shirebrook were annoyed that the goal stood as the ref missed a blatant elbow to the face on Carter Widdowson in the build up to the goal and the Shirebrook protests fell on def ears both sides went about trying to get the next goal of the game and it arrived in the 39th minute when Kieren Watson went through on goal and collided with Shirebrook goalkeeper Levi Owen and fell to the floor and the ref pointed to the spot Sam Smith took the penalty and despite diving the correct way Owen couldn’t keep the penalty out and Hallam went into half time with a slender advantage.

Chances were few and far between for Shirebrook in the second half with Hallam dominating the ball but they struggled to get chances on target but as the game went into the last 10 minutes Shirebrook had 2 big chances to pull a goal back with the first falling to Ben Charlesworth and the second falling to Lewis Macaskill but both failed to take them and Hallam left with all 3 points.

After the game we spoke to manager Gary Bryant who gave us his thoughts on the game

“No complaints from me about the result being beat 2-1 to a title contender team the lads did themselves proud having the better of the chances in the 1st half and went 1 nil up but after the official failed to see an elbow to carters face and played on Hallam equalised I always got told a head injury game should be stopped no matter what but with the young side we have the youngest being just 16 there was plenty of positives in the game we defended very very well I can’t recall Levi having to make a save in the second half Hallam really did hang on for all 3pts but we nearly got a point when Lewis headed a cross and just skimmed by the post but it wasn’t to be the lads still put a good performance in and no shame about the result proud of the lads. The defenders were man of match absolutely brilliant at back, pitting their bodies on the line brilliant. The next month is tough for us fixture wise having the top of the league back to back but bring them on what I say these young lads won’t make it easy for any teams play”

Shirebrook are back in action next Saturday when table topping Campion visit Langwith Road 3PM KO

Shirebrook starting XI Owen Wilton Clarke (Carrington) B. Simpson (G.Simpson) Widdowson Downs Dodds Taylor (Brewin)Charlesworth Savage Macaskill subs not used Kunsyusz Morton