EV2 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
Dodworth Miners Welfare 4-2 Ecclesfield Red Rose 1915
Last minute hero specialist Sam Severn scored yet another injury-time winner for Dodworth Miners Welfare, ruining Jon Wragg’s final game in charge of Ecclesfield Red Rose 1915.
Severn curled a stunning long range free kick into the left-hand bottom corner to snatch a deserved win for Dodworth, who now go into a final day shoot-out against champions-elect Wakefield AFC.
Victory next week will secure second place. The title is unlikely as they need to win 8-0 against Wakefield who have not conceded a goal for six games.
The script for the last day was almost ripped up as a threadbare, but very organised and compact Ecclesfield side frustrated their hosts throughout.
Red Rose, whose manager Wragg resigned after the final whistle, were arguably the better team in the topsy-turvy first half.
Dodworth raced into the lead as Jack Owen escaped on the left within 60 seconds and coolly fired placed the ball past young stopper Jenson Beever.
Some may have thought cricket score due to Dodworth’s need to score several times.
However, Red Rose had strong periods.
Midfielders Laurie Wilson and the youthful Andy Dawson were assured in the middle of the park and brothers Declan and Liam Childes were a constant menace for Dodworth’s defence.
Liam Childes, who was later sent off, got in behind for Ecclesfield’s equaliser.
Danny Barlow lashed in a trademark free kick to restore Dodworth’s lead before a controversial penalty enabled Wilson to equalise for Red Rose.
The second half was pretty much one-way traffic.
Ecclesfield tired and Dodworth threw the kitchen sink.
The hosts had the most joy down the flanks as Ecclesfield made it difficult for Dodworth to penetrate them down the middle.
Owen, Calan Rollinson and Barlow had chances.
Liam Owen wasted a one-on-one while Kai Hancock had a goal ruled out.
Dodworth, who have yet to draw this season, looked out of luck until a free kick over 25 yards was their salvation.
Left-footer Severn sent a missile – definitely a shot – for the far post and struck gold.
Whilst Dodworth celebrated, those watching Severn and his team-mates may have had a Chris Kamara moment as Liam Childes was shown a red card after sarcastically hand-clapping the referee.
Dodworth rubbed salts in Ecclesfield’s wounds as Jack Owen latched onto Connor Rollinson’s pinpoint long ball and lobbed the onrushing Beever to add the fourth.
The Teams
Dodworth Miners Welfare: Herring, Connor Rollinson, S Severn, Rhodes, Rogers, Horbury, Calan Rollinson, Brotherton (captain), Jscobs, Barlow, J Owen. Subs: B Severn, L Owen, Hancock, Dey.
Ecclesfield Red Rose 1915: Beever, Hill, Groves, Hurst (captain), Russell, Womack, Dawson, Wilson, Farrell, D Childes, L Childes. Subs: Nuttall, Davis, J Wragg.
Who Was In Charge
Justin Carpenter (6/10)
How Many Were There
Around 50
Man of the Match
Jenson Beever (Ecclesfield Red Rose 1915)
