Royton Athletic 3 - 4 Shawdale

11 Man “A” Team Battle For The Win……

Shawdale where left in rather a predicament this morning, due to the kick off an hour later than usual.

With Dawson stuck up Mount Snowden and Moore’s and The Rock with Corporate tickets to watch some Manchester side and Temple in the Temple Bar in Dublin. They were considerably under strength.

Furthermore, with Eastmond late due to the fact he had just left the club from the night before. Left them with only 10 men approaching kick off.

Shawdale were down to a bare eleven players come the start, this including a rare appearance of the one and only Ryan Brewster, who was drafted in from his bed.

So a makeshift side took to the “Astro Turf Pitch” on a blustery day in Owdham.Shawdale played to the best of their ability all game, with the strong wind helping them in the first half. Early on in the game, Shawdale took the lead, after a great diagonal pass from Tweedale found the “Milk Bottle Legs of Kid Wrigley”, who slotted the ball under the keeper. Ten minutes later Royton got back into the tie, after a mix up at the back, Roytons striker found himself against an open net and tapped the ball home. That was as much of the excitement for the first half, the wind playing havoc with the ball and Wrigley being blown over by a huge gust of wind, just on half time. Shawdale found it difficult in the second period, playing against the wind and players out of position. However, they kept to their task.

And went 2-1 up as the unmistakable Coach Wylie slotted the ball home from an Eastmonds cross.But almost from the restart it was 2-2. A long throw wasn’t cleared and the ball ended up in the back of the net after confusion again in shawdales defence.It shortly got even worse, as Royton went 3-2 up after VAR ruled it wasn’t off side…my arse!!!With the wind in their faces, Shawdale worked hard to try and bring the game level.

On 65mins they won a free kick 30 yards out. Holmes whipped the ball in and Wylie rose like a salmon to head the ball home for his second of the game.3-3 and we were in for a tense nervous last 20 minutes. Both teams looking for that winner.

Both teams having chances to rap the game up. Then a comedy of errors saw that man Wylie, in the thick of things all afternoon, miss kicked a shot, tripped over but saw the ball rolled to Durrant, who smashed it home.

For the last 12mins, Shawdale defended with passion and guts and this game was won more by brawn and vigor that skill.