A comfortable win for Worksop at Hillsborough in the end, but how did Semi-Professional rate the cup final experience?
When Semi-Professional rocked up to Hillsborough about 15 minutes before kick off to see a massive queue which spanned what felt like a huge area all things considered, we were off to a pretty bad start.
In the end, kick off was delayed and we were able to report on our thoughts of the game as opposed to the agitated faces in the lengthy line outside the only open entrance at the ground, and we were in the stands to watch a fairly routine win for Worksop in truth.
With two goals inside the opening 20 minutes and the score 3-0 at the break, there was only ever going to be one winner and the difference in quality told, but it was a great experience for both sides regardless.
But from the tram journey there to the lifting of the trophy, how did we find our night?
The journey:
We met outside the University of Sheffield tram stop to head to Hillsborough, taking the yellow route tram that set those of us with a South Yorkshire travel ‘zoom’ card back £2 each way.
It was a relatively smooth journey, or it least it was after James, one of the team, decided to fall into someone’s lap as the tram began to move no more than 10 seconds into his first experience on Sheffield trams.
We also took a pit stop just before the Leppings Lane station to enjoy the local Wetherspoons- the Rawson Spring.
Now, some would call this us trying to embrace the full match day experience of the area and others would say we were looking for a pint, we’ll let you decide where you stand in that debate.
After the drinking was dealt with, we arrived at Hillsborough pretty easily, and we got home fine, we couldn’t fault the journey.
The atmosphere:
Understandably, the tie was dominated by Worksop off the field as well as on it, as the Tigers’ fans sang about how they all wanted neck tattoos to copy Liam Hughes, who netted a brace for them on the day.
We can’t pretend Hillsborough was bouncing though.
Our favourite moment of ours was when Dan tried to get the crowd going, perhaps slightly less impartially than we’d have preferred, by shouting “What do we think of Penistone?”
Some death stares and embarrassed faces later, we realised Dan wouldn’t be getting any help from the fans around us.
Entertainment value:
We were treated to some good football from Worksop, but as the gap in quality told so early, our attention did wane at times during the second half.
It was a bit too much of an ask for Penistone unfortunately and Worksop did retain the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup quite comfortably.
We were treated to some superb goals though, the pick of the bunch was the opener which was a coolly converted volley by Vaughan Redford.
Overall:
It was definitely worth going and another great experience for non-league football to be playing at such a big stadium, but from a neutral point of view, the lack of a real contest was mildly disappointing.