Seven Hills AFC

James Dodd, Paddy Wilson, Paul Crofts

3

Fit4U Rotherham

2

Todays marked SSHAFC's first official match, a home game in the Flourish Cup. Fit4U Rotherham are the opponents, a team in the division below Seven Hills in the Flourish League.

Seven Hills started off strong, playing some positive football and creating several chances, with Joe looking dangerous between the lines, but unable to capitalise.

After a period of possession around the Rotherham box, Seven Hills won a corner. Hit deep in towards the back post, Olliver Smith then headed back towards the front post for assistant manager James Dodd - in his first game for the club - to out jump his marker and nod in to make it 1-0. Our first official goal!

The game ebbed and flowed, and the Seven Hills defence stood strong deal with Rotherham's big centre forward. Rotherham continued to create some chances, but were limited to distance until they broke the lines with a long ball, with JD and JT jointly recovering to clear the ball.

Seven Hills then started to take control of the half, and when Paul Crofts turned over possession in the middle of the park and proceeded to hit a 25-30 yard effort, there was only one place it was going to end up. Top Bins. More than making up for giving a penalty away last week.

Into the break with a 2-0.

Unfortunately halftime saw a few forced changes, with JD having to come off and a rejig of players.

Rotherham started to get back into the game in the second half. With the wind in their favour they started hitting long balls that Seven Hills weren't attacking enough and not winning the bounce.

A corner for Rotherham early in the half, and a dangerous ball whipped in connected with their big centre forward to head in to make it 2-1.

Seven Hills got back into the game, with some good space being abused out-wide through Mark, Paddy and Keiffer overlapping on the right. But their pace became their undoing, with two goals flagged for offside when it might have easily been in their favour.

Another chance came with Paddy picking the ball up and cutting inside to rifle a shot onto the underside of the bar, and seen by those on the sidelines to clearly go over the line, but play was waved on.

Frustrations now started to show as decisions weren't going the way of Seven Hills, with play being stopped by the referee and drop balls not resulting in returning possession. Rotherham took full advantage of the situation, a long ball over the back, that the Seven Hills didn't take control of, slotting home to make it 2-2 with minutes to go. The game now looking certain for penalties.

Seven Hills battled on and refused to let their heads drop, a marked change from where they were in the past. Substitutes Warren and Alex in the middle of the park helped bring a certain level of calmness to the play and work the ball forward. With players almost lining up to shoot it felt like the outcome would be inevitable. Rotherham were parking the bus, blocking everything, but one shot comes and is looking goalbound, only to be met by a raised arm from a Rotherham defender. Penalty to Seven Hills with 2 minutes to go.

Up steps Captain Paddy Wilson, and he calmly slots it home. 3-2, the game looking like it's finished.

Yet there was still room for more drama, Alex tactically concedes a foul in the middle of the park to stop Rotherham's quick attack and Rotherham send everyone up.

Spotting the gap, Seven Hills decided to leave Warren out to hit on a potential break… the Rotherham keeper plays the long ball in and it's quickly cleared for Seven Hills to hit on the break. Warren is 1 on 1 with the keeper from the half way line. Rounds him in the box and it look inevitable that the score line would reflect the game more accurately. But as he takes it past the keeper, the ball moved forward and is picked up by Mark, who was in an offside position. Flag is up and the game comes to an end.

Final whistle 3-2 Seven Hills.

Unfortunately, the cherry on this cake would have to wait until we've learned more about how to stay onside. But Paddy's penalty sends Sheffield Seven Hills AFC through to the next round.

A game that shouldn't have been this close, were it not for the Fit4U Rotherham playing out of their skins and giving Seven Hills a tough and hard battle to the end.

MoM: Jamie Taylor Runner Up Mom: Liam Sproson

Goals: James Dodd, Paul Crofts, Paddy Wilson

We wish Fit4U Rotherham luck for the season.