BEESTON IN THRILLING LATE COMEBACK TO CLAIM TITLE

BEESTON ST ANTHONY'S 4 CARLTON ATHLETIC 4
WEST YORKSHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION AT ST ANTHONY'S RD
28 MAY 2016 --- 2.30PM

LEE COLEMAN BEESTON ST ANTHONY'S STRIKER WITH THE LEAGUE TROPHY

Oh my this game had it all but at the end of the 90 minutes the title had gone to Beeston St Anthony's [BSA] courtesy of a dramatic late come back from 4-1 down the home side crashed in 3 goals in the final 11 minutes to pick up a point that secured the silverware.  Make no doubt though that Carlton Athletic had shaken the home side with a barnstorming performance that had seen them lead 3-1 at the break and when within 10 minutes of the re start that was extended to 4-1 BSA were looking forlorn.  But the final 11 minutes saw the game turned on its head with goals from John Mallison, Matty Moon and a Sean Jeavons penalty earning the required point for the home side to claim The West Yorkshire Premier League Title.
More on the game shortly, as usual, but with the final game of the season promising so much BSA top with a points advantage and two games to play the same as today's 2nd placed visitors Carlton Athletic Leeds was the place to be and having seen BSA at Horbury last week this game was eagerly awaited all week.  Having followed the midweek games in the league this was an easy selection for what would be the final game of the 2015/16 football season.
Usual base station start saw our booking clerk Sarah announcing she had met Chris Waddle at her 'window' this morning on his way to Wembley for Sheffield Wednesdays play off game, although she did think at first it was Paul Young.  On arrival in Leeds at 1215 and having booked the train tickets to Cottingley, the nearest station to Beeston we decided to completely ignore this and set off on a walk to the ground.

GRANARY WHARF POP VIDEO UNDER WAY, WHO?

The new exit from Leeds station into Granary Wharf and the under the station arches saw us walk onto a 'pop video' set, as an ageing music man[?] I can honestly say I have no idea if I should know who they are, but I didn't!

DON REVIE KEEPING A WATCHFUL EYE ON ELLAND RD

Moving around the former industrial areas of Leeds and onto the edge of Holbeck, home of the former big band leader Ivy Benson and onto Elland Rd home of Leeds Utd.  A few selective pictures and a nice shot of Don Revie looking towards the main entrance, normally the statue shown is the Billy Bremner one but I was impressed with the former managers memorial.
After a look around the clubs superstore we marched up the hill into Beeston former home of Waddingtons Games producers of Monopoly and the constituency for the MP Hiliary Benn whom the blog met at Sheffield station earlier in the season.  The Leeds South area was also represented by former Labour Party leader Hugh Gaitskell whose name has been remembered in the local school.  The changing rooms that BSA use are also named after the arears former MP.  Bringing the Beeston information section up to date the area was also the birthplace of Leigh Francis the brains behind Keith Lemon!

A RELAX AFTER A LONG JOURNEY FOR A HOPPER

The entrance to BSA is along St Anthony's Rd, although we found our way there through a mini maze of footpaths, bringing us to The Hugh Gaitskell Changing Facilities.  Enterprisingly the club had set up a food stall outside and within the entrance a refreshment bar Mick was soon in for a selection including a hot dog.  Around the corner to a fenced walkway to the pitch of probably a 100 yards in distance.  The ground is a tight and compact affair with a neat looking playing surface for this time of the season.  The near side is hard standing and with just the goal to the right hand side not railed off we have a remaining area of grass standing behind the top goal is uncut but the opposite side has a small walkway shorn, this area also contains two questionably roofed dugouts.  As ever in this league there is no covered standing which would not worry anybody today as the weather was very fair but I suspect on a winters day would put people off.  The latter was not the case today with a crowd of around 225 watching this game the enthralling encounter with first playing second had certainly attracted local interest and a big attendance from hoppers who were there from London, West Midlands, Macclesfield, Retford to name a few.

Greetings were made with a few from the BSA squad seen last season and then a nice early chat with Malcolm from Carlton Athletic, alongside manager Mark Pitts who was kind enough to bring his team sheet over were some hoppers had already gathered.
Beeston's last couple of games had seen them secure 5-1 victories and although Carlton had narrow and nervous 3-2 and 4-3 successes in what had been a tremendous season after their promotion from league 1 last season.

EARLY PENALTY FOR CARLTON ATHLETIC

So here we were to this potential title decider and how this game started at apace when just 7 minutes in when Mathew Jackson was felled by Matty Fannon to give referee an easy penalty decision, top scorer Reece Fennell dispatched the spot kick.  It was 2-0 just before the half hour mark Eli Hey crashed a shot off the bar the follow up was hooked off the line before Mathew Jackson steered the loose ball home.

JEAVONS MAKES IT 1-2 TO GOVE BEESTON HOPE

BSA were struggling to get any flow to their game and Carlton probably could not have wished for such a good start but the home side gave themselves hope when a free kick 25 yards out was superbly curled home by skipper Sean Jeavons.

AN ANXIOUS FIRST HALF FOR BEESTON MANAGER MARK HALMSHAW AND
ASSISTANT MATTY BENNETT

 Once again Carlton were not to give any leeway to BSA and just 3 minutes later Joseph O Neil swept in at the back post to bring the gap back to 2 goals in the visitors favour and that's how we went into the break.
The second half started with Beeston struggling to get a grip on the game and Carlton confidently went 4-1 to the good when the in running player at the far post converted, again it was O' Neil's his second and surely this was enough to give Carlton 3 points and send the League into a couple of decisive games on Tuesday night.

A GREAT CROWD ENJOYED A SUPERB SPECTACLE

Time was running out and even normal livewire Lee Coleman was looking subdued he had to think the comeback was not going to happen when his flying overhead effort on 67 minutes flew back off the bar.

MATTY MOON CHALLENGES FOR THE BALL FOR BEESTON

As the game became more tense referee Starkie had been kept busy with a selection cautions to keep a grip on proceedings and then it happened!
With 11 minutes of the 90 remaining John Mallinson crashed the ball in at the back post and you just started to sense BSA raise their hopes and on 88 minutes it was looking possible that the required point was a possibility when after Coleman's edge of the box work set up Matty Moon who slotted home to make it 3-4.
Ninety minutes rung out on the clock and a hand on the back saw the BSA player fall in the box referee Starkie pointed to the spot and could we see a remarkable come back?  To badly paraphrase Bob The Builder 'yes we could' captain courageous Jeavons took on the responsibility and fired home to pull the sides level at 4-4.

JEAVONS GET HIS SECOND AND BEESTONS FOURTH

In a nervous 4 minutes of injury time BSA were reduced to 10 men when Moon was sent off for a second caution following a challenge on the visiting keeper Leon Heeley.
O'Neil pulled one nervously for Beeston across their goal mouth and soon after referee Starkie blew for full time to give BSA the necessary point and release scenes of joy from the players and home bench.

FINAL WHISLTE WHO CAN GET ON THE PITCH FIRST?

The Beeston players slumped to the floor they had given everything to this game and contributed to a fantastic advert for The West Yorkshire League and although I guess that's no soother for them they should be proud of their achievements this season following promotion and credit should also be given to them for remaining on the pitch for the presentation of the League Trophy.

MARK GRIMSHAW SHUTS HIS EYES TO BELEIVE IT HAS ALL HAPPENED!

Beeston St Anthony's on this performance should never be written off and over the season have clearly showed their class in a successful season culminating in winning the title.
This was a cracking game with 8 goals, 2 penalties, a sending off and numerous cautions in a fully committed game.  Combined with last weeks game at Horbury, and while accepting that 3 of the better teams have been viewed, this league clearly has a lot to offer.
Return journey to Leeds was taken by First Bus service number 1 which upon departure at Leeds station allowed enough time to join the, as usual, packed X Country service that the blog departed at Sheffield to join up with a Northern Rail service to base station, note to self stick with Northern their not great but X Country are well below them in the league table.
This season started in July 2015 for pre season 2015/16 at Rocester and its been a very enjoyable season with some great clubs, supporters and hoppers met, thank you!! With thanks also for reading the blog hopefully as ever the down time before the new season will see the blog covering some summer supports including National Conference Rugby League, cricket, tennis etc.  Hopefully you will pop along for this summer journey there are some lovely little grounds to visit and chips to be eaten!

REFEREE JOE STARKIE GOOD PERFORMANCE IN A TOUGH GAME