Evo Stik Division One South
Shaw Lane Aquaforce 3-2 Tividale
Just when you thought it was all over and Stafford Rangers were the champions, James Walshaw scored with the last kick of the game to take the title race to the final day.
By Craig Elliott’s own words, Shaw Lane Aquaforce were “dead and buried” after Tividale put up a huge fight in Barnsley. The already-relegated side led twice through Chris Sterling, but Walshaw saved the day during the dramatic finale. Because of the delayed kick-off due to Tividale’s late arrival and the fact Shaw Lane scored the winner so late, it is possible the champagne was already out in Stafford.
A tired-looking Shaw Lane gifted Tividale both goals. The visitors created little, but Oscar Radford’s poor header back to goalkeeper Tom Morgan allowed Sterling to nip in and score towards the end of the first half. The big cheer that greeted the goal turned out to be from the six Stafford fans, who had made the long journey in a bid to see Aquaforce drop points.
Elliott must have given his side a rollicking at half-time as Matt Thornhill scored almost immediately.
But instead of kicking on and going onto score a second, Aquaforce gave Sterling acres of room, enabling a neat finish over the top of a helpless Morgan. Just 15 minutes were left to score twice and stop Stafford becoming champions.
Getting a second equaliser of the night didn’t take too much effort. Walshaw got that too after reacting to Adam Priestley’s header which had come back off-the-post.
Ten more minutes ticked on with Tividale holding out. Injury-time came and so did a succession of corners. The final one saw Radford make amends by keeping the ball in play. He passed to Thornhill, whose peach of a volley into the six-yard box was met by a very grateful Walshaw and his head.
Supporters sprinted up and down the terraces to celebrate. The jubilant Aquaforce players went up the hill.
Is this the greatest Aquaforce comeback of all time? Saturday will decide that. The permutations are very simple: Aquaforce have to win at Rugby and hope Coalville beat Stafford. If that happens, the title is coming to Barnsley.
Shaw Lane Aquaforce: Morgan. Dempsey, O’Brien, Potts (Stohrer 86), Radford, Meynell, Hands (Bennett 68), Thornhill (captain), Walshaw, Edwards (A Davidson 62), Priestley.
Tividale: Turner (captain), Price, Male, Steven, Barnes, Smith, Devlin, Fletcher, Sterling, Whittington, Rabone. Sub unused: Brown, Grainger, Gomes, Juices, Martin.
Referee: Peter Walker
Ref Rating: 8/10
Attendance: 140
Man of the match: James Walshaw (Shaw Lane Aquaforce)