FOOTBALL: Swinton Athletic crowned County Senior League winners after seven-goal thriller

SWINTON Athletic came through a dramatic final night of the season to become champions of the County Senior League.
Celebration time for Swinton Athletic against Dodworth MW last night. (Picture by The Dribbling Code).Celebration time for Swinton Athletic against Dodworth MW last night. (Picture by The Dribbling Code).
Celebration time for Swinton Athletic against Dodworth MW last night. (Picture by The Dribbling Code).

They snatched a late winner to beat leaders Dodworth MW 4-3 at Park Road and take top spot.

Swinton needed a win to be sure of finishing top of the Premier Division while a draw would have been good enough for Dodworth provided Wombwell Main, in third, didn't beat bottom-of-the-table Ecclesfield Red Rose by two clear goals or more.

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When Swinton were pegged back from 3-1 to 3-3 and with Main on the way to a 4-1 win, the title looked to be heading to Wombwell.

But there was one more twist as Swinton netted the decider to seal the victory and the honours.

Athletic's opener had come on 22 minutes from a fierce cross by Enzo Guarini.

Curtis Wilkinson doubled the advantage on the half-hour before Dodworth quickly pulled a goal back.

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In a terrific contest well refereed by Megan Wilson, Kieran Hirst scored from an Alex Wilkinson assist to make it 3-1 midway through the second half only for Dodworth to hit back with a deflected own goal and a penalty in the space of eight minutes.

Two minutes later came the decisive moment.

A lovely feint from Justin Greenwood took him outside his man and he drove a shot across the goal and inside the far post to cap a memorable night for the home team.

More than 300 spectators were there to witness it as the black and whites celebrated their first County Senior League crown in five years.

 

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