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Sheffield Forum claimed a late win in this friendly which was much closer than the previous contest between the 2 sides. Forum had prepared to have 20 players present only to find themselves with 12 at kick off and 13 with a late arrival.
Sheffield Forum got off to a great start with Liam Wales being a constant threat. Forum opened the scoring as Ashley Proctor bagged his first goal after Phillip Gills shot was parried into Proctors path. He smashed the ball home in his first start playing as a forward.
It was long until Chapeltown equalised. Prince got a throw in down their right hand side near the edge of the area and the throw was missed by everybody before dropping in the middle of the 6 yard area. Forum failed to clear as keeper and defender hesitated and when the ball was claimed, the defender was soon dispossesed and Chapeltown got their leveller.
Forum made good use of the wings as Wales and Gill made good runs but it was Chapeltown who were on top, their forward managing to go through a couple of times before being pegged back by Shaun Baugh or Ryan Lynch.
The forward did eventually beat the defenders to a long ball and beat keeper Adam Smith as he got to the ball first and managed to poke it into the net from just inside the area. Forum were on the back foot and seemed to be struggling for an outlet up front.
Despite Forum applying pressure from the side, the Chapeltown keeper was claiming everything near him whilst other shots were off target. Tom Gray did excellent again in the middle of the park but Forum did not find a break through. Chapeltown came closest to scoring, another long ball causing problems but the finish went just wide.
Half Time: Sheffield Forum 1-2 Chapeltown Prince
Two half time changes saw Daniel Worthy take to the pitch after playing only 10 minutes previously on Sheffield derby day and Kyle Dowling went on up front. Andy Coates and Gill were the one replaced.
After an encouraging half time chat, Forum tightened up at the back and blocked out the long ball and played much safer in their own half. This had a positive impact on the forward players as they pushed on. Wales was now marked by 2 players and eventually swapped to the right hand side.
Chances were spurned by Dowling, Proctor and Middlebrook before the final subs were made, Coates and Gill coming back on for Proctor and Gray.
With around 20 minutes remaining, Forum brought the score back to 2-2. Chapeltown failed to clear a corner, shots were blocked before the ball fell to Daniel Worthy who finished well.
Game on....Chapeltown were now very much on the back foot and were left with counter attacking as their only option. Forum looked dangerous when going forward but struggled to get shots in. Nathan Jenkins from left back and Lynch from right back both got down the flanks and centre back Shaun Baugh went on the odd mazy run forward.
Despite the pressure, it was until 3 minutes from time that Forum snatched it. Middlebrook played the ball to Wales on the right hand edge of the area. He controlled well in the area and hit a sweet right foot volley straight into the top corner of the goal. It was an excellent strike from a player that has really come into his own recently.
Forum played out the remaining few minutes but did have 2 more attacks but the game finished 3-2 to Sheffield Forum. A better performance is needed from the side for future games but the last half hour was a lot more positive.
Team: Smith, Lynch, Baugh, Hunter, Jenkins, Gill (Dowling), Coates (Worthy), Gray (Coates), Wales, Proctor (Gill), Middlebrook.
Forum are currently playing in a group of friendlies between ourselves, Chapeltown Prince (hence why we played them again), Commercial and Hillsborough Club in order to keep ourselves going. We will play Hillsborough next at some point but we still have a league game against Smithywood to play. Date is yet to be confirmed.
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