JOSH GOWER HITS THE WINNING GOAL SEVEN MINUTES FROM TIME TO HELP CROWN SCISSETT TO LIFT THE PRESIDENT’S CUP IN THEIR FIVE GOAL THRILLER AGAINST WEST END TERRRIERS.

Wakefield & District Sunday Football League - Sunday 1stMay 2022.

President's Cup Final

A game of two halves saw Crown Scissett lift the President's Cup of the Wakefield & District Sunday Football League thanks to a late goal from striker Josh Gower in their comeback 3-2 victory over favourites West End Terriers at the Nostell Miners Welfare complex.

This thrilling final saw the Crown Scissett surge into a 2-0 lead in the opening 15 minutes whilst the West End Terriers deservedly clawing back to make it 2-2 with two goals inside the opening 10 minutes of the second-half to play their part in this enthralling encounter.

Both sides were intent to make early in-roads and it was the Crown Scissett who drew first blood with a superb strike from midfielder Luke Charlesworth following an assist from Jacob Hawke with seven minutes on the clock. Before the Hemsworth outfit could reorganise, the Crown Scissett doubled their tally seven minutes later when a Cameron Guest effort was blocked by defender Dave North but the loose ball fell to Jack Haigh who sent in a rasping effort on the turn from 30 yards out past the surprised West End Terriers keeper Kailum Johnson who saw his side go 2-0 down.

West End Terriers gradually grew into the game and saw both Ben Austin and Jack Collins go narrowly wide before the instrumental Nathan Harrop saw his surging run and effort force a full-length save from Crown keeper Conor Mahoney at the expense of a corner.

In isolated breaks, a long pass from Crown defender Aaron Kiplin from the left to right found the unmarked Ben Austin who fluffed his golden opportunity with the keeper at his mercy. At the other end, Nathan Harrop saw his long-range effort skim off the top of the Crown Scissett crossbar.

A tactical switch by the Hemsworth outfit in the second-half saw the lively Nathan Harrop move up from the centre of midfield to a striker's role and this proved to be a master stroke with his brace bring the score line to 2-2 inside the opening minutes.

West End Terriers won a 50/50 ball in the middle of the park and the ball to Nathan Harrop from his brother Dale Harrop saw him surge forward leaving the recovering defenders in his trail before skipping past the keeper and firing home to reduce his sides arrears to a single goal margin.

Minutes later, a long punt from a West End defender evaded the header of the Crown defender and saw Nathan Harrop pounce and run over 40 yards before scoring his sides equaliser in majestic fashion to make it 2-2.

Crown fought gamely against the sustained pressure from the Hemsworth side and stood the test of the physicality of their opponents before forcing keeper Kailum Johnson into a point-blank stop in the 77thminute. The game seemed to be destined to go into extra-time but seven minutes from time a cross from the right-flank by Jacob Hawke found Josh Gower inside the West End Terriers danger zone before driving the ball through the keeper's legs from close-range for what proved to be the winning goal and a crowning glory for this team.

Match ball for the final was sponsored by Lightwaves Leisure & Community Centre.

The man of the match award, sponsored by Pennine Trophies (Heckmondwike) went to keeper Conor Mahoney of Crown Scissett.

The President's Cup was presented to Crown Scissett captain Cameron Guest by Wakefield & Sunday Football Leagues Secretary Tony Driver.