Crown FC 3 - 3 Shawdale

Shawdale almost “Trip” the Champions up………

On another blustery day the two best teams in the league met in the Reporter Cup on a very heavy and sandy Red Barn. It was going to be an epic from the first whistle, as the two gladiators of the league, fought it out toe to toe with both teams giving their all.

If it were a boxing match, it would have been a pay to view contest.

With two unlikely hero’s for Shawdale coming to the fore. Coach Wylie playing in the goals and making some extraordinary saves and Trippier scoring a brace of goals.

Plus new signings Williams and Crothers showed up well, in their first game in central midfield.

It was stalemate for the first 25minutes, as in a boxing match both sides testing each other out.. It was Crown who took the early advantage with a close range strike, to go one up.

The visitors surged forward time after time, and only for some great keeping by the home side keeper kept Shawdale at bay.

What was to come was a exhibition of great passing by both sides and some great keeping. With Wylie making a match winning save with his “Knackers” that left him flat out for a couple of minutes. (and now speaks in a very high pitch voice).

This was until the versatile Crothers played an inch perfect pass to Holmes, who rocketed it into the roof of the net.

Dawson in a class of his own on the wing, weaving, and dodging defenders, as he ghosted through the home side defence most of the second half at will.

With Tweedale and Temple defending excellently, Shawdale started to get the edge over the Champions.

That was until a scramble in the visitors penalty area, saw Crowns striker slot the ball home from two yards out.

Again, Shawdale pressed, Holmes orchestrating things in the middle of the park, every player bustling for possession, like terriers fight for ever inch at their opponents ankles.

Then on 72 minutes a great free kick saw the robust Wilkinson, lay off a delightful ball for Trippier to score his first.

There after, it was nip and tuck, both teams having chances. Then from hero to villain, as Wylie saw a great strike from 25 yards from Crowns midfielder spill through his hands, for the home side to take the lead once more.

With time running out and looking like the home side had done enough, a gallivanting run by Durrant down the wing found a precision pass to Wilkinson, who again laid off a great ball for Trippier to smash it home for the visitors supporters to burst into raptures.

The game was a great spectacle for Sunday League football, played in good spirit and full of entertainment with a three all draw the fair result.

Wylie speaking post match in a high-pitched voice, and an ice pack placed precariously around his groin area…

He was pleased by his team’s effort.

“We showed character and resilience, any other team would of folded after doing one nil down but we stepped up another level and matched them in every department today. I’m pleased but sore…….