EV2 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
Wombwell Main 1-2 Hepworth United
Darren Hepworth’s Hepworth United title contenders went joint top of the Premier Division after completing the double over Wombwell Main.
Goals from Enos Huly and Sam Thompson handed Hepworth their latest three points.
It was not all plain-sailing as Connor Peace’s late tap-in set up a nervy finale for the visitors.
Wombwell may look back on the defeat as a missed opportunity as victory would have propelled them to second in the table and two points behind leaders Dodworth Miners Welfare.
Unbeaten in the league since losing at Hepworth in the middle of September, the entertaining Terry Simon way of playing was missing and it was an uncharacteristic performance from Wombwell – despite having nearly all their big guns on the field.
Former Worsbrough Bridge favourite Huly used brute force to break the deadlock in the tenth minute.
The powerful forward knocked Aaron Tate and Jamie Knox about before hammering a shot past goalkeeper Glen Crossland.
Huly came off worse when Crossland closed him down and he needed carrying off.
Chances were at a premium and Thompson producing an excellent save out of Crossland was one of few notable first half moments.
Hepworth also had to shuffle his pack again before the break as Holmfirth’s favourite Non League journeyman Dan Vinten had to be substituted for his own safety due to the danger of a red card.
Simon’s three card trick – of bringing on Brad Green, Finlay Durkin and Peace – midway through the second half breathed life into Wombwell.
Although at the same time it inadvertently brought on their downfall, Green’s long throw was a handy secret weapon.
Ex-Emley stopper Adam Lawlor was all over the shop from the first missile but Wombwell failed to pounce on the loose and Hepworth mounted a deadly counter-attack.
Long-serving captain Ryan Silvester looked like a young Jordan Henderson as he strolled forward before unleashing a killer pass to set Thompson through one-on-one with Crossland.
Thompson fired low and hard past Crossland and along with his team-mates he ran over to the walking Hepworth and his coaching staff.
The win was sealed until out of nothing Wombwell scored.
Finlay Durkin broke clear and although Lawlor saved the effort, Peace was nearby to place the ball home.
Now on the ascendancy, Wombwell sensed blood and the visitors owed Lawlor a debt of gratitude as he tipped Lewis Field’s goal-bound effort over the crossbar – Wombwell’s best chance before the final whistle.
What They Said
Wombwell Main manager Terry Simon
“I thought that was the worst we have played this year.
“I looked at the side and I thought we had a decent squad out today but our warm-up was quite flat and we took that into the game.
“I gave them a rocket at half-time and it got a bit of a reaction in the first five minutes of the second half.
“We brought subs on to freshen it up and changed our shape to go three up top.
“Young Brad Green came on and slung a long ball into the ball which probably caught them out because they hadn’t had it before.
“The ‘keeper missed it and it was an open net at the back-post but no-one was there.
“Ten seconds later they go up the other end and make it 2-0.
“I thought in the last 15 minutes we worked hard and we got a goal back to make it interesting.
“I thought Hepworth defended well and I think they will be in the mix at the end of the season.
“We have to dust ourselves. We have been on a decent run and now we have to go on another decent run.”
Hepworth United manager Darren Hepworth
“We made it close.
“It was going to be a really tough game because they have been in good form and they had a great win last week.
“We knew we had to be at it and we were coming into it off the back of our first defeat.
“I said to the lads that we have been asked a question, let’s see if we can answer it and we did.
“I thought we were outstanding apart from ten minutes from the end when we gave them some hope.
“We conceded a soft goal after defending so well in the rest of the game.
“We invited the pressure on but overall I thought we created the better chances.”
On Enos Huly: “He got a nasty injury but he’s okay by the looks of it.
“When a player goes down like that you do worry.
“The noise he made wasn’t great.
“I said to the lads at half-time ‘we do this for him now’.
“He was brave in getting the goal and he gave us that foothold in the game and it was good to see it through.”
The Teams
Wombwell Main: Crossland, Field, Hirst, Tate, J Knox, Campbell, Jackson, Simon (captain), Wingrove, B Knox, Ramsden. Subs: Durkin (used), Green (used), Kiwanuka, Peace (used), Brown.
Hepworth United: Lawlor, Hough, Vinten, Silvester (captain), Travis, Bartram, Jowett, Thompson, Huly, Rose, Buckley. Subs: David, Mason, Pilkington, Spicer, Barber.
Who Was In Charge
Michael Corbally (7/10)
How Many Were There
Around 50
Man of the Match
Ryan Silvester (Hepworth United)