DODWORTH CLAIM SUCCESSIVE TITLES

DODWORTH MWFC 1 HIGH GREEN VILLA 1
SHEFFIELD COUNTY SENIOR 1 @ HIGH ST
14 APRIL 2018 --- 3PM

DODWORTH MW FC CHAMPIONS SHEFFIELD COUNTY SENIOR LEAGUE 1

Dodworth MWFC claimed the point they needed to secure the County Senior League 1 title when Kieron Suthern fired home from close range after 77 minutes to equalise a superb Harley Wilson 25 yards free kick that had given the visitors the lead.  The pressure valve was released all around the Welfare as players wheeled away in celebration and the partisan crowd urged their side on to defend the point for the remaining minutes.  For two years running silverware has graced the club following last years league 2 title for the club in its debut season manager Darren Millington and his team could celebrate more silverware and the odd sparkling lemonade afterwards in the Tappers Bar.

FISH AND CHIPS IN DODWORTH HARBOUR

The week leading up to what would be the last home game of the season for Dodworth was awash, literally, with rain yet again and having failed on a few occasions to take the risk during the first months of the year of a visit contact was made with Darren on the Friday evening and you knew from the texts that were coming back that this was going to be an interesting visit.  Having received the semi all clear and after a dry night and Saturday morning we made an early start first to Sheffield and then a rammed express train to Barnsley full of Bolton fans who were visiting Oakwell.  After departure from the station via the adjacent bus station a 22 to Gilroyd dropped is just shy of the village centre at, of course, Shaws Chippy, an inside seat was claimed and a brief moment in time was once again spent sampling the delicacy.

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR EXECUTIVE STANDS

With a good 2 hours to kick off there was time to do a little exploring through the High St with its memorial to the lost of the local collieries and of course like many areas around South Yorkshire the village had its own pit but was also surrounded by many others mines too.  Following the decimation of the industry many local industrial units have been set up as replacement employment and now form edge of the village industrial estates which have a great access to the M1.  The village didn't have a typical pit community feel to it with many new houses as well as older houses probably deflecting away its past glories and the area becoming a commuter belt with access to the motorway close at hand.

A FIRST DODWORTH MWFC PROGRAMME

Arriving into the ground once again a part model of a winding wheel with the final thought of  'unity is strength' is added to the plaque remembering Dodworth and its miners.  The whole area opens out to the football ground and in the foreground two bowling greens.  It appears cricket and rugby have now finished here but before entering the Welfare there was time for a quick look at the ground.
Down the track to the right and an open expanse straight ahead to a further football pitch sees the ground railed offering grass standing behind both goals and the far side.  From the far side we look back towards High St and our entry point and the highlight inbuilt into the bank a large typical old style welfare stand with steep and deep concrete terracing with large roof its a sight to behold.  To the rear are two large boards with the club badge on and separate to the right are the old style changing rooms also atop the bank.  Between the stand and the changing rooms is a walkway back to the club were we found most of the home players already in attendance and their was time to partake of a lemonade and catch up with the clubs media man Paul Youle.

ITS ALL ABOUT THE STAND HERE IS SOME FIRST HALF MATCH ACTION

Darren had spoken to him overnight and once again the friendly nature that goes before the club on the hoppers circuit was self evident throughout the afternoon, thank you!  We managed a brief catch up with The Miners manager Darren but he of course had other things to concentrate on today and with just the point needed for the championship there was hope of the trophy being presented after the game.  Recent form for Dodworth had showed a degree of shakiness in getting over the line and although in points terms they were well ahead of Hepworth Utd and todays visitors the job still had to be done.
As the locals filtered in there was time to meet up with todays official Steven Grainger who kindly supplied the teams sometimes you do have to admire the bravery of these guys with no assistants going into the competitiveness of the County Senior League week in week out.
Dodworth had produced a smart little programme today, their first ever, with colour photos progressing their season and a look at the club including todays game.  This was a very good effort which the club gave away free hopefully next season they will produce in the Premier and its a selling point that will get many visitors from the hopper fraternity visiting I'm sure.

ROY THE RAFFLE FIVERS WORTH

Before we look at the proceedings here a paragraph on Roy the raffle man and I just hope I can do him justice.  Small in stature, bluff in nature head adorned with flat cap with a collection of mining badges around it and a Yorkshire man to boot.  Wedged between the tight entry gate and the freedom of the terraces woe betide anybody that doesn't buy a raffle ticket to support the club.  I received an education his comments were cutting all delivered with no smile in a dead pan delivery style that made you wonder what he was really thinking.  " a pounds worth is that all ya want", "does tha want five tickets its only a fiver",  "come on love surely tha's havin more than that" and so they went on, bloody brilliant.  When Mick turned up and had a quid's worth he got the same treatment thankfully I decided to be more generous and I got 'I like thee'.  Every club should have a Roy as we know football clubs do not run on nothing and with the ever increasing demands from the authorities we really should not be resisting putting £3 or so into a game at this level. 
To the main event then and High Green Villa needed to win to keep their title hopes alive and so we expected a good game the first half was a tense affair with the visitors having the upper hand and Dodworth struggling to get too much of value together especially in the opposition box.   The visitors were first to threaten when Mathew Jacobs tested the home keeper and it was the same player on the half hour mark who also tested Cram, the Villa also struck the bar through a right wing corner from Alex Mosley.

NOT IN THE SCRIPT HARLEY WILSON FIRES HIGH GREEN INTO THE LEAD

In and around this Dodworth forced a good save out off visiting keeper Tom Parker after Craig Allen unleashed a 25 yard effort before Danny Barlow had the best chance for the home side firing across the face of goal from the back post.
It was though High Green who went into half time ahead seven minutes before the break in a central position from a 25 yard free kick thanks too Wilson who hit the sweetest of efforts into the Dodworth goal.

STILL DODWORTH CANT FIND A WAY THROUGH

Dodworth made two early substitutions in the second half and the immediate effect seemed to raise the game for the home side with Rich Dey and Aarron Brotherton both testing the Villa keeper who was not found wanting.  As the tension became palpable it looked like it would not be Dodworth's day and High Green looked to rain on their parade especially when a superb ball in from Sam Severn saw Dey's shot blocked and Barlow saw his follow up effort receive the same treatment. 
High Green sensed their chance to seal it on the break when Jordan Evans crossed for Joe Moorhouse who saw his effort well saved by Cram in the Dodworth goal.

THE MOMENT IN TIME WHEN DODWORTH KNEW THE TITLE WAS THEIRS

The clock was running down, the anxiety levels were heightening and the thoughts of the next game were developing in a few heads until on 77 minutes.  Like their previous move Dodworth saw the first shot blocked from close range then the second blocked on the line before up stepped Suthern to fire the loose ball home from to set off those scenes of joy all around the Welfare ground.
I guess those remaining minutes seemed like hours for the home fans and although every missed kick or misplaced pass was a tension moment for The Miners it wasn't too long before referee Grainger signalled that the League 1 trophy could be presented to Dodworth Miners Welfare Fc captain Aarron Brotherton.

MANAGER DARREN MILLINGTON AND CAPTAIN AARRON BROTHERTON WITH THE CHAMPIONS TROPHY

The after match celebrations in The Welfare were slightly delayed by the Grand National which had a tremendous atmosphere during an exciting finish and then the celebration could continue for this fantastic achievement for a side who know roll on into the County Senior Premier League and on todays showing High Green Villa wont be far behind them after they pushed Dodworth all the way in a fantastic battle this afternoon.
A departure to the station was made following a final cheers to Paul and back down to the changing rooms were Darren Millington and Craig Allan were enjoying a quieter moment and I guess a recollection of the season.
Finally to Roy, who was still selling tickets for the raffle in the bar after the game, a great pleasure we never found out who won the raffle or even if it will be drawn before next August but who cares you were my man of the match today!