Athersley Recreation win Sunday Senior Cup
Written by Les Payne on Thursday 30th April 2009

Athersley Recreation added to their long honours list by lifting the Sunday Senior Cup again following a hard fought 1-0 win over the Joker in last Friday's final (24th April) at the Keepmoat Stadium No 2 pitch.

As they celebrated at the end, they probably cared little about the manner of the own goal that provided the victory although every player would have had some sympathy for the unfortunate Joker defender Steve Dunn. The moment he will never forget but will always want to, came five minutes before half-time. He was under no pressure about 25 yards out when he addressed a bouncing ball and lobbed a back pass high towards his goalkeeper Jamie Bailey.

Unfortunately, it was too high, and it dropped over the goalkeeper's header and just under the bar. Despite this stroke of luck, Athersley did just have the edge overall and the better of the few chances created and they deserved the win. It was Joker who carried the early threat through dangerman Matt Outram and three times excellent play on the right wing saw him deliver dangerous crosses only for Athersley's defenders to do their jobs superbly.

Snap shots by Matthew Thompson and Ryan Eastwood for Athersley were not far off target and Jason Bentley spun well to make something from nothing and his effort was narrowly wide of the Joker goal. Rob Branagan almost profited from a well-timed leap but saw his header drop just over the Athersley bar. With the half seemingly set to end goalless, the error by central defender Dunn broke the deadlock in the 40th minute.

Joker suffered a big double blow at half-time when strong centre half Mark Mayo and the dangerous Outram both had to be replaced due to injury. But it was Joker who went closest four minutes into the second half, Rob Hayes climbing well but sending his header just wide from a free-kick by Ryan Tate.

Thereafter, Athersley provided the more threatening attacking with Eastwood's diving header held by Bailey on 53 minutes. Then, two minutes, later Athersley midfielder Ryan White went on a great run from the centre circle which took him past four challengers and, just when he seemed set to finish it off in the perfect manner, he lifted his shot from 16 yards over the bar.

Thompson had a shot deflected just over the Joker bar before the highlight of the match withy 20 minutesleft. Eastwood closed in for a close range header but the 'goal' shouts were cut short by a tremendous reflex save from Bailey in the Joker goal. Even then, it seemed that Eastwood would finish off the loose ball from a narrow angle only for Bailey to recover and make another splendid save to divert the shot behind.

On 76 minutes, Tom Harban linked with sub Richard Gomersall to fire just over before Joker, finding it hard to create against Athersley's disciplined defending and tight marking, made their late push. Hayes sent a header dropping not far off target from Dan Patterson's centre with seven minutes left and two minutes later, sub Chris Green pounced on a defensive header but struck his 15 yarder over the bar much to Athersley's relief.

Great defending sorted out a Joker corner before, in stoppage time, a free-kick just outside the penalty area offered the Rotherham side - runners-up last year as well - their final opportunity. Andy Battersby went for it but curled his effort wide upon which Athersley heard the wonderful sound of the final whistle seconds later.

ATHERSLEY REC: Joe Thornton; Antony Smith, Shane Clifford, Tom Rushforth, Tom Harban, Ryan White, Matt Thompson, Scott Alcock, Jason Bentley (Richard Gomersall 70), Chris Geal (Richard Green 87), Ryan Eastwood. Unused: Kyle Cook, Matt Dolan, Adam White.

JOKER: Jamie Bailey, Steve Dunn, Chris Fawcus, Andy Battersby, Mark Mayo (Joe Green ht), Ryan Tate, Richard Patterson, Gareth Petch (Chris Green 75), Rob Branagan, Rob Hayes, Matt Outram (Dan Patterson ht). Unused: Ryan Bailey, Carl Allott.

Match Report by Les Payne www.sheffieldfa.com