Hallam 0 Eccleshill United 1

ECCLESHILL United were up against the odds and the pronounced slope in the first half at Sandygate – but came away from the world’s oldest football ground with all three points.

Both sides ended the game with ten men from what was a closely-contested, but far from aggressive, Toolstation Division One fixture.

The Eagles were first to be reduced in numbers when Jermaine Springer picked up a second yellow card, but the hosts had Jordan Turner sent off soon after. He stupidly kicked the ball away when a decision went against Hallam.

The red cards were both in the second half after the first 45 minutes, in tough conditions on a slippery surface in the rain, ended goalless.

The Eagles’ Adam Turner came closest to breaking the deadlock but his well placed header was superbly clawed out by the home keeper.

With Eagles defender Springer and the home side’s Turner both departed, the visitors got the all-important goal with a little under 16 minutes remaining.

It was a scrappy conversion by Joe Firth but it was enough to settle a tight game.

On a day when all of the games began with a minute’s silence due to Remembrance Day the home side proudly played in shirts with a poppy woven into the fabric.