High Street, home of Dodworth Miners Welfare based near Barnsley, South Yorkshire and play their trade in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior Premier Division. It’s Friday!!! And we have football! YAAAAAYYY!!! A League Cup Quarter Final against local rivals North Gawber Colliery!! Oooooh!!!! Bring it on!!
Arrival in Dodworth and now for the short walk to the ground and I am now joined by John from Wombwell who I had joined at Denaby Main!! Arrival at the ground and I am now joined by Ian who I had met at North Gawber and Penistone!! Groundhoppers Assemble!! A quick pit stop in the bar and in we go! Free Entry for this League Cup tie! Have it!!
Kick Off! 5 minutes in and Dodworth come forward down the left, they work it into the box, North Gawber get a foot to it and clear it but only to Dodworth’s number 10, he works it to the edge of the box and he goes for goal… AND FINDS IT!!!!! Great hit!! 1-0!! One Dodworth fan has brought a megaphone and he is playing the siren to celebrate that goal!! Only in non-league! He is also the club’s unofficial spokesman for the game! The game has become the feisty affair I thought it would become… Red card pending? Very possible!
I have now gone and bumped into Joe of Match Days on YouTube!!! Great to meet and chat with like minded people and groundhoppers!! Some fantastic videos on that YouTube channel to discuss with the man himself!!
Half an hour into the game now and Dodworth come forward, a long through ball to number 9 who is in behind… Good save by the keeper but it’s not done yet, North Gawber fail to clear and number 10 for Dodworth retrieves the ball, he drives into the box and he shoots… HE’S DONE IT AGAIN!!!! And it’s 2-0 to Dodworth!! Off goes that siren again!! They are in dreamland!!! North Gawber furious with each other now…
1 minute later and here come Dodworth again, driven down the left and the cross comes in, it’s poorly dealt with by the North Gawber defence and here is number 10, is this the Hat-trick? No… He’s hit it over!! It should have been!
44 minutes gone now and North Gawber have the ball now, number 10 drives forward in the Dodworth half, he plays it to number 7, big chance here!!! He’s put it over… Should have done better there! That would be the last action and the score at half time remained 2-0!
Second half, a slow start to the half with challenges flying in but no real clear cut opportunities. 53 minutes on the clock and North Gawber have won a free kick on the edge of the box on the right, the ball is crossed in, Dodworth win the header but it falls to North Gawber’s number 10, he makes space for the shot… And he scores!! 2-1!! What a cup tie we’ve got here now!!!!!
66 minutes into the game now and Dodworth have a corner, number 7 plays it short, he gets it back and he crosses it in… ALL THE WAY IN!!!! Couldn’t have put it any better! He lobs the keeper and it’s now 3-1 to Dodworth! Siren!!
The Dodworth fans are enjoying themselves a lot more now with regular chants aimed at the players through the megaphone! 10 minutes to go now and North Gawber have a corner, can they get one back? In it comes, here’s the header… Off the line! Headed away but played back in, number 6 is there with the header… Saved by the keeper!
83 minutes now and Dodworth come forward again, number 10 has it now and he gets to the edge of the box and he goes for the curler… Wide! “Ref! How long?” From the megaphone. Imagine not loving non-league football?
89 minutes gone now and North Gawber come forward again, number 8 drives forward, he plays it to number 11 who shoots… Just wide!! North Gawber continue to put pressure on. The keeper plays it forward now in stoppage time and the Referee blows for full time!! “YOU REDS!!” From the megaphone to emphasize what a day it has been for Dodworth!!
FT: Dodworth Miners Welfare 3-1 North Gawber Colliery
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – Not much singing but it did feel like a football match for sure and the man on the megaphone was absolutely fantastic! It gave a real buzz to the place which was brilliant!
- The Ground: 8/10 – For this level, this is simply sensational!! A massive huge stand fit for leagues a lot higher than this with great views and a great club house!!
- Expense: 10/10 – A free game again with goals!! Nothing else to be said!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Great to see John and Ian again tonight!! Had a great time all in all! A great game and the fans with the megaphone added to it all! Fantastic to meet Joe from Match Days!! If you haven’t watched any of his videos, make sure you do!! Groundhopping around the UK to some great clubs and will be doing much more! Check out his channel on YouTube!!
32/40