The University of Sheffield women’s football 1s walked away with a Varsity win after a late goal from Clara Goggin at Hallam Sports Park. Both sides fought hard to turn the scoreline in their favour, but the black and gold side took home the point for their university.
Starting as it seemed to go on, the first half of the game was close. The first opportunity came from Uni of’s number 9, Eve Bennett, with a strike saved by a dive from Sheffield Hallam’s goalkeeper in the seventh minute. Hallam denied a couple more runs from the black and gold as the game started to look promising for the University of Sheffield. But the first goal came from the burgundy’s Caitlin O’Callaghan, the ball rolling past Uni of’s goalkeeper. Celebrations were dampened as the number 9 injured herself and was carried off the pitch after a short pause in the game. Five minutes later, the game started again, and it wasn’t long before Uni of matched Hallam’s goal with a strike from Evie Driscoll-King in the 19th minute. Both squads remained strong until the end of the first half, and the scoreline remained one all at halftime.
The lights came on for the second half as spectators zipped up their coats to keep warm in the chilly weather.
Uni of made their first substitution of the game 9 minutes into the half, swapping Mia Brown for Mollie Reany. The Black and Gold made a clear improvement in the final half, with numerous chances at a goal coming from Clara Goggin, who couldn’t seem to find her way past the goalkeeper. She seemed to be having a frustrating game creating many unsuccessful opportunities for her and her teammates. Fortunately, Goggin’s luck turned around, and with 10 minutes left in the game, she scored the winner taking the total scoreline to 2-1.
There could have easily been more goals with a chance from Naomi Cooper-James hitting the bar, narrowly missing out on creating a third goal for her team. Hallam grew increasingly anxious with time running out to bring themselves back into the game. But it wasn’t meant to be for the Burgundy side, and the score was 2-1 as the referee blew the final whistle.
University of Sheffield: Driscoll-King, Miles, Peters, Gibson, Davison, Reaney, Rajab, Brown, Ashman, Bennett, Cooper-James, Ellen, Ind, Goggin.
Sheffield Hallam University: Sharpe, Hinchliffe, Purcell, Moorhouse, Graham, Docherty, Frances-Creaser, O’Callaghan, Wilson, Millar, Cameron, Broadhurst, Nash.