Report by North Derbyshire Radio’s Will Sendel
Sheffield FC were knocked out of the FA Cup following their 3-0 defeat to Bootle at the Home of Football Stadium.
The Club started the brighter of the two sides, coming close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening ten minutes. A dangerous cross from the right flashed across the visitors’ penalty area but Alex Hardwick’s swing failed to connect and the chance went agonisingly by.
The moment proved to be the closest Vill Powell’s side would come to taking the lead. Bootle Midfielder Harry Rimmer managed to poke the ball home just before the half-hour, with Jim Pollard’s fingertip contact not enough to turn it away from danger.
Sheffield struggled to contain Bootle’s attacking play throughout the rest of the half and were punished again just before the interval. Rimmer picked up possession on the edge of the area and drove a low shot past Powell to mark his debut with a brace and sent Sheffield down the tunnel with a two-goal deficit.
The hosts continued to struggle in the second half, failing to put together anything that looked like getting them back into the game.
Frustrations boiled over on the hour. A clumsy challenge inside the box handed Bootle a penalty, which was stroked down the middle by Duffins to extend the Merseyside club’s lead to three.
Powell’s men managed a promising period towards the end of the match, but several corners and long range efforts went unrewarded. Despite some late runs from Will Portman, who’s tenacity and desire down the right was one of the few sources of excitement for the Sheffield crowd, the game ended in defeat.
The loss brings Sheffield’s FA Cup dream to an end. Powell and his players will now turn their attention to their league campaign, with the side set to travel to Albion Sports next Saturday (23rd August).
