Championies Championies…….Ole Ole Ole..

Glossop Wasps 2 v 4 Shawdale

Have you ever witnessed a championship decider like this? The concluding game of the season, everything down to 90 minutes… I'd say not…It had everything you could possibly imagine. It was fast and furious from the outset, four red cards, and five yellow cards, a twenty two man bust up in the goals and concluded with Shawdale becoming Champions Of Oldham & Hyde Premier League.

The game started at a whirlwind tempo, both teams attacking at every opportunity. Wasps a quick and skilful team, pressed the visitors all over the park. A very good side but tonight were swatted by a side who weren’t going to let the title slip from their grasp.

Then on just six minutes, Dawson tricked his way pasted two defenders, to cross an inch perfect ball, for Durrant to slot home. That helped settled the nerves. Well that was until a home side corner, wasn’t cleared and a Wasp player stuck out a toe to nudge the ball over the line.

Some great defending by Temple, the Ryan brothers, Tweedale who have been immense in the last couple of games and a great save by Ireland late on in the first half saved the visitors blushes. Barnes never stopped chashing all night; he was a pocket dynamo out on the right edge. Along with Eastmond, who was a threat through out the game.

One all at the break, both teams shared the spoils in the first period. Then disaster happened on forty eight minutes, when a looping shot some how went over Irelands head into the back of the net.

Surely, Wasps weren’t going to cause an upset….? Nah.. Were they not.. But had a few nerves jingling going into the last half an hour.

That was until on Sixty-three minutes Durrant went through the gears out wide, cut back inside and squared the ball for Holmes, to slide in and square the proceedings.

Then all hell broke lose. Players, spectator, mums, dads, dogs became involved in a fracas in the home side goals.

The referee brought things to order, showing two red cards to the home side and one to Shawdale.

With the extra man Shawdale took control. From a Dawson corner Morrow rose like a phoenix from the ashes to head the ball home.

Shortly after, another home side player was dismissed through a rash tackle. On eighty minutes Durrant went through on goal, only to be brought crashing to the turf and a penalty was awarded.

Morrow the coolest man on the pitch, with a short run up planted the ball into the back of the net for the title. Great celebrations erupted by fans and player. Knowing 2021 was their year. Celebrations will go long into the night…and well deserved..