SUBSTITUTE WILL MORENO’S LATE WINNING GOAL HELPS OLD JUNK BOYS FC LIFT THE PREMIERSHIP TWO LEAGUE CUP FOLLOWING THEIR CLOSE 2-1 SUCCESS OVER HEMSWORTH MW AT NOSTELL MINERS WELFARE VENUE AT CROFTON COMMUNITY CENTRE.

Wakefield & District Sunday Football League - Sunday2nd April 2023

Hemsworth MW ............................................ 1
Junk Old Boys ............................................... 2

A last-gasp winning goal from substitute Will Moreno saw Kirkburton-based outfit ,Junk Old Boys FC, lift the Premiership Two League Cup overcoming a robust Hemsworth Miners side in front of a large crowd at Crofton Community Centre, home of Nostell MW.

The match was a frantic affair from the outset and over competitive physicality on the pitch was not in keeping with the spirit of fair play in the game that saw both sides reduced to ten men late in the game.

The Old Junk Boys posted early warning when James Jennings surging run and cross from the left-flank a saw James Manning fail to cash in at the far post before striker Tom Radley forced a point-blank save from Hemsworth MW goalkeeper Perry Walker.

The offside trap seemed to the theme for the Hemsworth side in the first half to the frustration of their opponents. However, a couple of counter-breaks which beat the offside trap saw Hemsworth defender Karl Roberts, formerly on Barnsley's books, cleared a shot off his line before a recovery and a last ditch lunging tackle by Roberts denied Jack Hepworth.

The second-half seemed to be more open with end to end attacking play. In the 68th minute, a short-corner by Joe Webster found Connor Chadwick whose looping cross at the far post was tipped over the goalmouth by Old Junk Boys goalkeeper Luke Jagger - an excellent save.

However, five minutes later, the deadlock was broken when a teasing free-kick by the dynamic Connor Chadwick caused confusion the Old Junk Boys penalty area and saw substitute Andrew Davis steer his header over the
goal line form close-range to give Hemsworth MW a 1-0 lead against the run of play. Their lead lasted three minutes as their opponents equalised when George Whittaker won a header and saw the ball fall in the path of striker Thomas Radley who slotted the ball home from close-range for the equaliser.

The last ten minutes of this final finished in a dramatic fashion as the game seemed to be heading for extra-time. Hemsworth striker Will Kemp was put through and he was able to shrug off recovering defender Harrison Waston only to miss the target from short-range with the keeper at his mercy.

The game deteriorated and saw both sides reduced to team men with a space to three minutes - Conor Williams of the Hemsworth MW was the first player to receiving the marching orders followed by Old Junk Boys substitute Tom Barber.

With extra-time looming in the dying minute of the game, Old Junk Boys mustered one last attack and won a free-kick on the right-flank. a melee in the box saw the loose ball fall to substitute Will Mereno who poked the ball home for the winning strike much to his side jubilation and their opponents stunned disbelief.

The match balls were sponsored by Lightwaves Leisuer & Community Centre.

Man of the match, sponsored by Pennines Trophies (Heckmondwike), went to Old Junk Boys George Whittaker.