EV2 Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division
Dodworth Miners Welfare 2-1 Wombwell Main
Hero Sam Severn upstaged returning league superstars Danny Frost and Danny Barlow by scoring the dramatic winner for Dodworth Miners Welfare with literally the last kick of the game.
Severn’s moment of genius drove a bus through the headline of ‘Iceman Frost ruins Barlow’s homecoming’ and inflicted a cruel defeat onto Wombwell Main.
In fairytale fashion, legend Frost, back from a long sabbatical, leapt like a salmon five minutes after coming on as a late substitute to seemingly rescue a point for Terry Simon’s side.
The header had cancelled out Barlow’s second half top corner rocket, a fairly predictable aspect of the script with the striker making his second debut after returning from rivals Swinton Athletic two weeks ago.
The Barnsley derby had drama – a controversial penalty, a brilliant match-winning save, three goals and a mini brawl.
Other than Dodworth’s dubious spot kick, the first half lacked energy.
That was hardly surprising as both sides hadn’t played for a few weeks.
Wombwell goalkeeper Steve Crossland made a wonder save from home captain Aaron Brotherton before the ridiculous penalty award – for handball against ex-Worsbrough Bridge centre-back Liam Graham.
Justice was served as young starlet Liam Owen hit the post from the spot.
Wombwell cut Dodworth open on the stroke of half-time.
Kieran Hirst set Gadhafi Kiwanuka away down the right of the penalty area but the wingman powered his effort wide despite only goalkeeper Josh Herring to beat.
The second half was initially tight with neither team looking like scoring.
However, now with Barlow back into the side, Dodworth have a man who can pull rabbits out of hats.
That’s exactly what he did by unleashing a bullet from 18 yards and sending away out of Crossland’s reach.
Dodworth were unfortunate not to increase their lead.
Brotherton headed young substitute Calan Rollinson’s pinpoint wide while the latter went close himself.
The introductions of goal seeker Frost and young forward Bailey Cowsell changed the dynamo of the game.
Having done a warm-up Messi would have been proud of, fitness fanatic Frost injected his ability and experience into the theatre and became an instant menace for Dodworth.
The Shaw Lane Aquaforce great began the move for his equaliser.
He sprinted down the middle of the field at some speed before spraying the ball out to his prodigy Ryan Wingrove out wide on the right.
By the time Wingrove crossed, Frost had made an unsighted but extremely intelligent run to the back-post where he rose to head past Herring.
Chances flowed at both ends.
Herring denied Wingrove at the near post while Barlow rattled the woodwork at the other end.
Cowsell then should have won it for the visitors.
Hirst led the Wombwell counter-attack and he set Cowsell through one-on-one with Herring who pulled off an incredible save by sending the ball out for a corner.
Herring’s team-mates rewarded him straightaway as left-back Severn sweetly buried a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area in the nick of time as the referee instantly blew for full-time.
What They Said
Dodworth Miners Welfare manager Darren Young
“I think we managed the game well.
“We changed it at half-time by getting Danny (Barlow) 30 yards further up the pitch.
“He was doing some good work but it was 50 yards away from goal.
“We gave them space out-wide so it looked like they were getting forward but we managed it really well because we gave them those spaces knowing they still had to cross the ball and score.
“We probably looked more pressure to an outsider looking in than we actually we were because we were prepared to give up those areas knowing that we had quality with Danny 30 yards out.
“You see what happened, he’s scored one that no-one else can score and that’s why we got him back.
“I think it was a nothing game.
“They were a little bit off, we were a little bit off and it was just about who were going to pop up in the right moments.
“We popped in the right moments.”
Wombwell Main manager Terry Simon
“I think it sums up how our season has been.
“We played Penistone the other week and for 70 minutes we were the better footballing side and we lost 2-1.
“We played Swinton and lost 2-1 and football-wise we were arguably the better side.
“Again today, football-wise we have certainly been a match for Dodworth and lost with the last kick of the game.
“I thought if there was going to be a winner I thought it was going to be us but Josh Herring always does that when he plays against us.
“He always pulls a worldie off.”
On Danny Frost: “I’m really pleased he has come back.
“I said to the lads that it was the strongest attacking options we had on the bench with Danny and Bailey.
“They both went on and contributed to the game.
“As soon as Frosty went on I said to Paul (Kay) ‘he’ll score, James (Grayson from NLY) is here to watch him, he’ll score’!
“His first touch showed that he hasn’t kicked a ball for seven months and I’ve never seen Danny score a header but fair play to him.
“He’s just infectious and he’s loves to be hated by the opposition and to be loved by the Wombwell lads.
“He certainly is and hopefully we will have him for the rest of the season.”
The Teams
Dodworth Miners Welfare: Herring, Wetherall (Connor Rollinson 67), Rogers, Rhodes, S Severn, Batty, Brotherton (captain), Barlow, L Owen, Jacobs (Calan Rollinson 67) J Owen (B Severn 80). Subs unused: Cawley, Parlett.
Wombwell Main: S Crossland, Martin, Graham, J Knox, Jones, Jackson (Cowsell 69), B Knox, Hirst, Wingrove, O Sykes (Frost 73), Kiwanuka (Tate 64). Subs unused: Emmett, Simon.
Who Was In Charge
George Barber (5/10)
Man of the Match
Owen Sykes (Wombwell Main)
