Shirebrook sunk by Sheffield in FA Cup replay

Shirebrook had held their own in a fast, competitive first half, but Sheffield went into the interval a goal in front after skipper Warren Burrell had headed home at the far post off Matt Roney’s corner on the right on the half-hour.

So there was still all to play for going into the second half, but Mark Fereday doubled Sheffield’s advantage just four minutes after the restart and Shirebrook then had something of a hill to climb.

Nevertheless, Shirebrook went close to halving the deficit soon afterwards off Ben Cobley’s cross from the right, but James Gregory made it 3-0 for the visitors on 65 minutes and the tie looked all but over after that.

Sheffield began to flex their muscles and looked likely to score again as Shirebrook tired under the constant pressure from the side from two levels above.

But the home side kept battling and it wasn’t until the 89th minute that Sheffield substitute Joel Purkiss found the back of the net for the fourth and final time for the visitors.

SHIREBROOK TOWN: McCormack, Cobley, Claridge, Booth, Wankiewicz, Pickering (Selvam 77), Bacon (Thompson 58), Getliff, Moxam, Shepherd, Dickinson (Scott 58). Subs not used: Wiltshire, R Camm.

REFEREE: Declan Bourne of Nottinghamshire.

ATTENDANCE: 332.