#ItsOkToTalk Shield
Dodworth Miners Welfare p1-1 Wombwell Main
Kai Hancock converted the winning penalty in the shootout as Dodworth Miners Welfare staged a fight-back to retain the #ItsOkToTalk Shield.
The annual friendly raises money for the Samaritans and Barnsley-based community group Project 14.
The fundraising is led by Wombwell secretary Warren Bird who created the hashtag #ItsOkToTalk several years ago.
The hashtag was created to encourage men to speak up about their mental health problems.
The hosts were left stunned after conceding in the opening two minutes to Wombwell who were without their stars such as Kieran Hirst, Ash Emmett and Iceman Danny Frost.
Target man Joe Sidebottom, a literal last minute addition to the starting line-up after late withdrawals, broke the deadlock.
But his goal was far from calculated. Sidebottom hit a mis-cued angled shot from the edge of the penalty area which somehow squirmed its way in.
Wombwell head honcho Terry Simon will have had tears in his eyes as the goal was almost like a perfect farewell as his prodigy Sidebottom is moving to Dubai next week for work reasons.
Rather than multiple their lead, Wombwell eventually succumbed to a Dodworth equaliser.
Danny Cawley’s deep free kick was knocked down and landed nicely for Calan Rollinson.
Young Rollinson used his large muscular frame to carefully dodge several defenders before firing a low effort home from around 12 yards.
The second half was a nail-biter with both teams having chances.
Wombwell missed a sitter right at the death after Dodworth’s defence had been exposed.
Although several people called for two exciting periods of extra-time, it went straight to penalties.
Wombwell’s Ben Knox took the first spot kick and it was saved which set on them course.
Wombwell scored all further four penalties but Rollinson, Richard Day, Aaron Brotherton, Danny Barlow and Hancock kept their nerve to ensure a Dodworth victory.
The Penalty Shootout
Man of the Match
Jake Simon (Wombwell Main)
