Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup
Forward Jonathan Hill was in goal as Alex Hardwick’s double sent Maltby Main into their first Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Final since 1978.
It will certainly go down as a night to remember for years to come as Louis Axcell’s Maltby battled back from a half-time deficit to win 3-2 against an unlucky Parkgate side.
Hill’s presence in goal makes the victory even more astonishing.
But at half-time it looked like Maltby could suffer a third semi-final defeat in seven years in the Senior Cup.
Jake Bancroft had broken away and rounded Hill to put Andy Dawson’s Parkgate ahead.
Predatory Jordan Turner sparked Maltby’s comeback, finishing off Hardwick’s cross seven minutes into the second half.
Hardwick then scored his first to put Maltby ahead for the first half.
Haydn Ward quickly headed Parkgate level, setting up a grandstand finish.
Eight minutes from time Hardwick lobbed Parkgate’s goalkeeper – scoring what proved to be the winner.
However, there would still be drama as Ward had a header cleared off-the-line when Hill was beaten.
Nails will have been bitten as stoppage time ticked down and Parkgate won a dangerous free kick.
Maltby survived and they face a final against NPL side Worksop Town.
That’s because Rossington Main unfortunately bowed out but not after giving Worksop a major fright in front of an unbelievable crowd of 546 people.
Ben Hunter’s brave Rossington had Worksop on the ropes at half-time as Gary Mundy’s goal had given them a solitary goal lead.
However, Liam Hardy and Steven McDonnell secured the win for Worksop with two goals at the start of the second half.