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Vill Powell grabbed his first win of his tenure as Sheffield FC manager on Wednesday night, as they progressed past a dogged Dearne and District side at a freezing Goldthorpe Welfare Ground, with the 4-1 win earning the World’s First a Quarter Final tie at Sandygate versus Hallam.

Dearne were lively in the opening minutes, but didn’t cause much problem for Edd Hall in the Sheffield goal, whilst at the other end of the pitch George Bristol was hardly bothered in the opening half hour.

On 33 minutes the hosts took a surprise lead, Jake Austin breaking clear on the left flank, before squaring the ball to Jake Phillis who took his time picking his spot to make it 1-0.

Club responded calmly and clinically and on 40 minutes they were level, a Stephen Brogan corner picked out Brad Beatson’s head at the back post, with the defender burying the ball through the mêlée.

The second half saw Club come out of the blocks in top gear, and inside two minutes they were ahead, as Jack Watson showed strength and tenacity on the right to hold off his defender and strike a ball across the keeper for 2-1.

Sheffield had the game in their control at this point, and they made it 3-1 on 72 minutes after substitute Josh Ayres picked up the ball in midfield, before striding and striking home a low hard shot from 25 yards. 

Despite looking like a tired outfit, Dearne continued to play some adventurous football and had several chances to pull one back, with Jake Austin and Brandon Burke both sending efforts over the bar from inside the area.

In the last minute the visitors made it 4-1 giving the scoreline a convincing look, keeper George Bristol’s goal-kick was only half hit, with Connor Cuts returning with interest from 30 yards out.

So that sets up a juicy quarter final tie between Hallam FC and Sheffield at Sandygate, the first meeting since July 2021 and the first competitive meeting since October 2012, a game the South Yorkshire public will be looking forward to with anticipation.

Dearne and District: 1 George Bristol, 2 Josh McKay, 3 Regan Kelly, 4 Luke Skelton, 5 Jack Waldron, 6 Josh Dacre, 7 Brandon Burke, 8 Alex Wilkinson (c), 9 Jake Austin, 10 Fabian McLaren, 11 Jake Phillis.

Subs: 12 Ben Dyer, 14 Liam King, 15 Rylee Groves, 16 Bailey Lowe, 20 Jamie Knox.

Shefield FC: 1 Edd Hall, 2 Jack Hardacre, 3 Rory Coleman, 4 Ben Whelan, 5 Reece Fielding (C), 6 Bradley Beatson, 7 Tom Hinton, 8 Stephen Brogan, 9 Jack Watson, 10 AJ Greaves, 11 Nathan Modest.

Subs: 12 Luke Mangham, 14 Josh Ayres, 15 Joe West, 16 Connor Cutts, 17 Brandon Webster.

Referee: Gareth Thomas

Attendance: 215