North Gawber are hoping to secure the biggest win in the club’s history on Wednesday when they travel to Maltby Main in the Sheffield Senior Cup semi-final.
Gawber, who are top of the County Senior League, play two levels below Northern Counties East Premier side Maltby. But coach Dave Simms is confident his side can cause an upset and reach the final at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane in May.
He and his players will dedicate any success to his predecessor and club founder Nicholas Bedford who died after being attacked in the town centre in 2015. Simms said: “Nicholas set the club up eight years ago and, after he died, it was very close to folding. But we stuck together and everything we achieve will be for him. Ninety per cent of the squad is the same as the squad he had.
“Our main focus is the league title but to reach the Sheffield Senior Cup final would be unbelievable. Maltby are massive favourites but we will go there to express ourselves and we know there is a chance of an upset. A lot of our players could play in the NCEL so we have the ability to do it.”
Gawber stayed top of their league with a 4-1 home win over local rivals Wombwell Main in the Premier Division on Saturday. Matt Thornton won a penalty which Liam Marsden scored then Wombwell equalised through Billy Smith.
Thornton netted twice to make it 3-1 before Marsden scored from the halfway line after a mishit kick by the goalkeeper who was well off his line. Zac Harper, an unused substitute for Gawber, was sent off for his role in an argument with Wombwell players and staff.
Simms said: “It was a really good win in a local derby. “We haven’t been playing our best for a few weeks and Wombwell had been flying but we were excellent on the day and scored some great goals. Liam Marsden’s goal from the halfway line is something you don’t usually see at our level.”
Gawber are unbeaten in nine league matches, winning seven of them, since November. They are five points clear of second-placed Dodworth MW while they have seven league games to play but only two of them are at home. Wednesday’s semi-final will begin a run of six successive away games including their League Cup tie at Wombwell Main.
Simms said: “We’re really happy with our position but I think the title race could go down to the final game. Dodworth are a good side who will fight us all the way to the end. To win the league would be a magnificent achievement.”
