Didn't Survive The Panenka Shambles Though Did You?

Hallam Beat Beverley Town 4-3 On Penalties

Hallam 2 v Beverley Town 2

Northern Counties East League, Premier Division Play-Offs Final (Step 5)

Saturday 19 April 2025

“Phil, we never signed up for this”

That is what one of the Carrier Bag Firm is fond of reminding me. He trots that out when the increasingly ludicrously large crowds at Hallam get close to overwhelming some of the Sandygate infrastructure.

That's usually the toilets. That's the age we're at.

A lot of fans are drifting to what they think is a more sedate, more relaxed football experience in non-league. But with success, comes crowds, and with that comes a strain on the infrastructure I'm afraid.

Up the hill at Hallam, that means either getting up there early to snag a seat, or straining for a view under The Shed or on the hard standing. Some fans have even taken to reserving seats with blankets, etc. I fucking hate that.

Up the hill at Hallam, that infrastructure strain, means queues for the Bar snaking OUTSIDE the Clubhouse.

“But mainly, it's the toilets for you ain't it, Phil?

As Hallam have gone deeper into the season, challenging for the Title, securing the Play-Offs, Cup game against prominent North Derbyshire side, Sheffield FC, Cup Semi, Play-Offs Semi. And, today, this one off game for promotion to Step 4. As Hallam have gone that deep, the games have become ticketed.

So, the physical strain on infrastructure becomes a virtual, digital strain. Much chat in the stands about the difficulties of securing an online ticket for this one.

Here's the Stats. 280 tickets sold in the first minute of sales. 350 in five minutes. 600 in fifteen minutes. One thousand two hundred tickets sold in the first thirty minutes.

1,563 at the game. Fucking ridiculous.

And don't forget, there's not an Away Allocation. Any of the Beverley Beaver Army who wanted to be at the game had to contend with the Hallam Faithful on the overwhelmed Website. A good few managed - Good Lads. But the experience clearly left a bootmark on them. To the extent they even had a flag made. Check the Photie at the top of the Blog!!!

Three o'clock kick off. The gates opened at 12:30. Some fuckers were (presumably) putting blankets on seats at 12:30. The Shed Enders were hanging the flags and warming up the Drum at 12:30. Very few people were using the toilet at 12:30 (hurrah). But, more importantly - you could easily get a beer at 12:30.

SALT, Loom, Pale Ale on Keg at 4%

So, it all came down to this. Hallam had finished second, nine points clear of Beverly in fourth. The Beavers had beaten Hallam 1-0 in October. But Hallam had won 7-0 in the reverse. So, it all came down to this.

Hallam play a very direct style. Danny South to win the headers. Rio Allan and Leon Howarth to capitalise. To be honest, that wasn't working in the first half. Allan looked isolated out on the right. Litchfield and Bradbury, and any creatives they were bringing, were just being bypassed in midfield and couldn't get in the game. A bit of blame culture and rattyness creeping in an’ all.

Daniel Pudil went down early on clutching his leg. After some treatment, he was waved back on. The ball immediately came down his side. He rather gingerly went for it, but held a lot back. That led to the Beverly opening goal on just 9 minutes.

The never calm Hallam manager, Craig Denton, and his general enforcer, Danny South, seemed to blame the physio for the goal!!! For letting Pudil stay on. FFS.

That early setback, coupled with Beverley having the run of midfield, caused a lot of arguments and finger pointing amongst the Hallam players.

Hallam did have a few chances and small spells. Leon Howarth had a little more time on one than he thought, and had another great snap shot saved, and placed a good header just wide.

But, my feeling was that Beverley were dealing well with most stuff at the back. And were counter attacking well, at pace, causing Hallam problems. All that emphasised, as they made it 2-0 right on half time.

You're never fully out of it at 2-0, in a Play Off, at this level.

And. Lo. Fifty minutes. A great ball in by Jack Brownell. A great glancing header by Leon H. And we're back in it.

A bizarre incident on 53 minutes. The league had appointed a Fourth Official for this one. Let's have it right, in this sort of game, with Denton on one bench, and a perpetually exasperated manager on the other, he's not really a Fourth Official.

He's an Abuse Sponge

AnyRoadUp on 53, the Fourth Official steps forward to delay a Hallam throw in-between the two benches. What the fuck he's done that for, I know not. Neither does Craig Denton. He's gone garrity.

“You can't do that. You can't do that.”

Craig was right. Still got a booking though. Fair to say, one goal back, fourth official involved, Denton booked - it was all fucking fired up now.

Make something happen. Doesn't matter what it is. Just make something happen. Long throw from the right. Bit of confusion at the front. Falls nicely to Rio Allan at the back. Two each.

A few more chances. A bit of cagey. Hallam score an offside goal. Lots of late substitutions, maybe so that both teams can get their penalty takers on. And, it all comes down to a different this.

Buttle, Brownell and Howarth all score for Hallam. But so do their Beverley counterparts. Three each. Adam Blakeley up next, he was subbed on at 88, is this his first touch? He's not happy with how he's spotted the ball. So he walks back and respots it. Saved.

Then. The defining moment. The Beverley lad goes for the Panenka. Dire. Hugo Warhurst goes down for the save. And still has time to stand up again and make the save. In real time, I felt a bit sorry for the kicker. But, what the actual fuck was he thinking? Dire.

Rio Allan scores Hallam’s fifth pen. This, and, down it all comes.

A superb diving save by Hugo, to his left.

During the celebrations, the Beverley Beaver Gonk, which had been sat atop the dugout all game, was deliberately knocked over by someone who should know better. I'd have done the fucking same…

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