16th March 2008

Victory across the M 1

Another long drive for Honley, travelling to Gawber, near Barnsley, for the match against Dodworth. With the home and away matches being postponed due to frost and the teams down to their last three games of the Season, it was a must win for Honley, if they are to snatch the second promotion place at the top of the league.

Honley kicked off, playing into the wind, on another chilly, windy, overcast day, but it was Dodworth that had the first shot on target, within a minute. After a free kick on half way on the Dodworth left, the ball flew in the wind. Its bounce fooled everyone, except W.Gardner, who flick the ball away, before flying bodies blocked a shot from closed range.

Honley finished the half strongly, with good passing moves resulting in shots by Sutton and Payne, but, whilst they were on target, they lacked the pace needed to worry the Dodworth goalie. The whistle blew and two sets of red noses and cheeks headed for the half time team talks.

As the two teams returned to the field, the Sun temporarily peeked through the dark clouds, but the corner flags were still bowing in the strong wind.

Honley took their foot off the gas a little and allowed Dodworth to pull one back. A Dodworth corner on the left, carried into the box, wher it was kicked away, but an overhead kick from near the penalty spot, saw the ball pass through the sea of bodies and find the net. GOAL 1-2

The wind was making play tricky. A Honley throw-in by Armitage, on the right, found Barnes, who raced towards the corner. He turned and crossed to Green, on the right side of the box, but his shot carried over the bar.

The breakthrough came on 10 minutes, with Dunbar playing down the left to Barnes, who squared to Booth, outside the box. He was given too much space and with two touches blasted the ball into the bottom left corner. GOAL 0-1

Honley pressed forward and an attack down the left was cleared to Armitage, on the right near half-way. He launched the ball forward, but the flight was affected by the wind and it dropped unexpectedly short, where Barnes’ shot was deflected wide.

Honley’s defence was looking solid, before in the final minutes, Honley won a foul deep down the Dodworth right. Green lofted the ball in, but it was cleared to the left. Barnes and Booth combined to slot the ball back into the mix, and the ensuing scramble led to Sutton, who put it away. GOAL 1-4

The final whistle blue and, after the briefest of de-briefs, the players and supporters raced for the shelter and warmth of their vehicles for the trip back home.

Within a minute, Honley won a corner on the left. Booth lifted the ball into the box, where heads went up, and a scrable ensued, before Payne was able to slot in, from inside the six yard box. GOAL 1-3

The wind continued to play its part, with both teams struggling and passes going astray. Half way through the half, Dodworth attacked down the left. The ball was cleared as far as the Dodworth mid-fielder, just outside the box. His shot passed through the forest of players and look a certain goal, until W.Gardner’s late dive to thwart the opportunity.

Both teams were working at full speed, but were struggling to get the required quality on the final ball.

On 25 minutes, Sutton, at half way on the left, played a diagonal ball to Barnes, on the edge of the box. He squared to Dunbar on the right, who turned and shot, but the ball just carried oHonley were challenging well and were virtually camped in the Dodworth half. A neat passing move down the right, between Booth and Dunbar, saw the bar moving towards the Dodworth box. Dunbar’s low cross needed a quick reaction as the Dodworth defender took the ball off Payne’s toe as he slid in at the near post.

Dodworth started to recover, and attacked down the Honley left. W.Gardner cleared the ball, but it was quickly returned, where Cheesbrough put his foot on the ball to block a shot, before the final ball headed over the bar.

To make life more uncomfortable, the sleet started to fall and on 25 minutes, Honley got the second. Cheesbrough cleared from the edge of the Honley box, to Booth, in the Honley mid-field. He slotted through the Dodworth defence, holding a high line, near half-way. Appeals for offside fell on deaf ears, as Payne took the ball into the box and slotted it under the advancing keeper. The Dodworth line judge waves away their players complaints, confirming that Payne had been in line with the last defender, as the ball was kicked. GOAL 0-2