Maltby Main happy to be underdogs for Sheffield Senior Cup semi-final

Maltby Main managerial duo Lee Whitehead and Andy Dawson.

THE “underdogs” tag sits comfortably with Maltby Main going into tomorrow's Sheffield Senior Cup semi-final against the world's oldest football club.

The Miners welcome Sheffield FC to Muglet Lane (7.45pm) for their biggest match of the season.

Maltby, from the Northern Counties East League, play at a lower level than their visitors from the Northern Premier Division East Division.

But having bumped out another higher-grade team in Stocksbridge Park Steels in the quarter-finals, Main know they have it in them to spring a surprise and reach the Senior Cup final for the second successive year.

Joint manager Lee Whitehead said: “We know Sheffield will be as tough as Stocksbridge but being the underdogs is a tag we like.

“No-one from outside expects or probably wants us to win but our lads will be up for it and I'm hoping the Maltby faithful turn out in numbers and become that 12th man for us.

“Our league form has generally been decent and it gives us the belief that we can give anyone a game at the moment.

“Injuries haven't been kind to us this season but any player that has stepped in has given their all.”

Sheffield FC are in the lower reaches of their league

They are managed by Ryan Cresswell, the former Rotherham United centre-half who had a brief spell at Parkgate last year when Whitehead and his managerial partner, Andy Dawson, were in charge there.

The two were in the Parkgate dugout when the Steelmen lost to Maltby in last year's semi-final, also at Muglet Lane.

Main, who suffered their first league defeat in six at the hands of Garforth Town on Saturday, went on to lose the final to Worksop Town at Doncaster Rovers' ground in what was their first appearance in the decider since 1978.

A quickfire return would be some achievement for a Maltby team which is much changed from that match nearly a year ago.

“From last year's final there is only Cameron Hough left,” said Lee. “Players decided to leave for pastures new before we were appointed, and a couple have left of their own accord since then.

“I'm sure Cam will be hoping to come home with a winners' medal this year but we still have a big semi final to go to make that possible for him.

“It would be a fantastic achievement for everyone at the club to get to the final so soon.

“We want to do this for Maltby Main Football Club and all the volunteers who put in an incredible amount of time to help improve us.”